The mission of the Gatlinburg Fire Department is to serve the citizens and businesses of the City of Gatlinburg and its many visitors by protecting life, property, and the environment, from the hazards and dangers of fires, medical emergencies, and manmade or natural disasters through prevention, education, inspection, and timely incident response.

Fire Department information

The Gatlinburg Fire Department provides emergency services 24 hours a day year-round. Administrative Offices, Fire Inspectors, Records, and Billing are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., except when closed on observed City holidays.

Headquarters / Station 1
1230 East Parkway, Suite 2
Gatlinburg TN 37738
Phone: (865) 436-5112
Fax: (865) 436-5714

Station 2
309 Reagan Drive
Phone: (865) 436-7274
Fax: (865) 436-2274

Station 3
1310 Ski Mountain Road
Phone: (865) 436-8757
Fax: (865) 436-8758

Fire Department Administration

Firewise Community Information

Fire Prevention

Medical Services

Message from the Fire Chief

Welcome to the Gatlinburg Fire Department website, which is a valuable resource to the residents and visitors of Gatlinburg, TN. The Gatlinburg Fire & EMS Department is an innovative and diverse department of over 90 members that represent the community we serve.

The Gatlinburg Fire Department is fortunate to have some of the most talented individuals in the Fire & EMS community. We value the history and tradition of the Gatlinburg Fire Department, an organization built upon the strong shoulders of our past leadership, without them we could not tackle the challenges of the future.

The Gatlinburg Fire & EMS Department is unique. In addition, to being an ISO class 2 Fire Department, Gatlinburg also provides ALS ambulance service to the residents and visitors of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The dedicated, hard-working members of the Department are trained in and provide the following services: Vehicle Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, High Angle Rescue, Hazardous Materials Response Team, Confined Space Rescue, and Wildland Firefighting. The Gatlinburg Fire Department has several members solely responsible for Fire Inspections, Fire Prevention, and Arson detection.

The Department strives to make Gatlinburg the safest place to live and visit and is committed to providing the best possible fire and EMS service to the residents and visitors of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Thank you for visiting the website and feel free to stop in at one of the Gatlinburg Fire Department stations.

Best Regards,

Charlie B. Cole
Fire Chief
Gatlinburg Fire Department
Phone: (865) 436-5112
Fax: (865) 436-5714

Some of Gatlinburg's earliest rescue vehicles included a brush truck, a rescue truck, a tanker and an engine. The last two trucks on the right were bought from the Fountain City Fire Department.

Gatlinburg Fire Department History

The Gatlinburg Volunteer Fire Department was formed on September 16, 1946. The City's first Fire Department was all volunteer and headed up by Ralph "Doc" Shilling, Gatlinburg's resident doctor. In 1946, the Department responded to eight calls. The Department responded to over 4,000 calls in the Fiscal Year ending on June 30, 2023.

In 1969, a paid Department was formed. There were two stations with eight personnel. The first fire truck was an army surplus Ford flat bed that had a front mounted pump. Currently, the Department has 45 paid personnel and 32 part-time paid personnel.

The City's first Ambulance was a Suburban Panel Truck with an army cot. In 1972, a citizen worked with the Mayor to get the Fire Department it's first top of the line Ambulance, which was a Suburban High-top along with the first portable defibrillator in the State of Tennessee.

Today, the Department has 3 Class A fire apparatus, three rescue apparatus, two tankers, two reserve fire apparatus, a 104' aerial apparatus, a wildland fire apparatus, a technical rescue response vehicle, a support truck, a hazardous materials response trailer and an ATV (all terrain vehicle).

Gatlinburg's fire response area is 238 square miles that covers a large portion of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Gatlinburg Fire Department Public Education

Amanda Perryman is Gatlinburg's Public Education/Fire Safety Officer. She coordinates public classes on different topics of fire safety. A landmark was reached in 2006 when every student at Ph Beta Phi Elementary School had the opportunity to participate in a fire prevention class. The topic for the class was "Watch What You Heat." The purpose of the class was to educate students about cooking hazards. Additionally, the seventh and eighth grade classes were taught how to properly operate a fire extinguisher.

Students at Pittman Center Elementary had the opportunity to go through the "Kids Fire Safety House," a mobile camper-sized house that gives children a hands on opportunity to see hazards and learn what to do in case they see or smell smoke or if a smoke detector is activated.

Each summer, the Gatlinburg Fire Department also hosts its annual Kids Camp which is dedicated to exposing school-age children to experiences of what it is like to be a firefighter. This camp is a great opportunity for firefighters to help children build a sense of teamwork and responsibility.