FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2008

RURAL/METRO OPENS NEW FIRE STATION FOR POWELL COMMUNITY

Residents of the Powell community in Knox County are being served by a new, state-of-the-art fire station. On July 31, Rural/Metro Fire Department officially cut the ribbon on the 5,000 square-foot facility on Old Clinton Pike.

The station is closer to a major thoroughfare - Clinton Highway - than the old location, which will improve response times according to Fire Chief Jerry Harnish.

“In 25 years since our first station in Powell, the population in this part of the county has almost doubled,” said Harnish. “The new facility will accomodate the needs of this growing area.”

Harnish added that the Powell station is the second busiest engine company in the county and responds to more than 2,000 emergency calls each year.

The new station also has additional features including emergency backup power and a workout room for the staff. The crew includes six full time and ten reserve firefighters and emergency medical technicians.

Rural/Metro Fire Department is the third largest in the state and has provided fire protection for Knox County since 1977.

Rural/Metro of Tennessee is the largest emergency service provider in East Tennessee, with a combined work force of more than 500 firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, telecommunicators and other support personnel.

Rural/Metro Ambulance Service is the only accredited provider in the state, with contracts for 911 service in Knox, Blount, Loudon and Franklin counties. Rural/Metro Corporation provides emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, fire protection, and other safety services in 22 states and approximately 365 communities throughout the United States.

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