Cookeville FD Halfway To Having Staff For 5th Fire Station

The Cookeville Fire Department is halfway to reaching its staffing goal for a 5th fire station on Tennessee Avenue.

Chief Daryl Blair said plan to bring on three fire fighters a year to staff the station came together to alleviate the financial burden of adding them all at once. Blair said a plan had to be in place once it was determined a station in the area would be necessary.

“I do feel, along with the city officials, that once building starts in that area I think it will kind of be like dominoes as they say,” Blair said. “It will start building up fast.”

Blair said this new station would improve fire service to Academy Road and the new industrial park area. Blair said the hiring plan was set over a four to five year span, so crews could be ready to step in when the station becomes operational.

“Getting three personnel this year would put us at the halfway point,” Blair said. “The year before last we got three when we first started it. Last year, didn’t get any and then its in there this year, to get three more.”

Blair said he would like to have a minimum of 12 people on staff at the fifth station. Blair said this station will service the area annexed by Cookeville several years ago.