FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2008

RURAL/METRO HONORS FIREFIGHTER FOR 30 YEARS OF SERVICE

When Frank Scimonelli started working with Rural/Metro, gas was still less than $1 a gallon and Knox County didn’t have a coordinated fire protection service. That was in 1977.

Rural/Metro Fire Department recently honored Scimonelli with a special award for completing 30 years of service with the company.

“It takes a lot of dedication to put your safety on the line even once, much less over 30 years,” said Rural/Metro Fire Chief Jerry Harnish.

Scimonelli is a reserve firefighter, meaning he is called in as needed. He works full-time with Knox County Schools.

He has been with the company since it began serving Knox County in 1977. “It’s never boring and it never gets old,” he said. “I love it.”

Rural/Metro Fire Department is the third largest in the state by population served. Rural/Metro’s fire service area includes all of Knox County with the exception of the city of Knoxville and several unincorporated areas.

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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