East Sullivan County Fire Department

06/18/2026

East Sullivan County Volunteer Fire Department is looking for workout equipment to help keep our firefighters healthy, strong, and ready to serve our community.

If anyone has exercise equipment they would be willing to donate, or sell at a very reasonable price, please let us know. We are interested in items such as:

• Treadmills
• Exercise bikes
• Rowing machines
• Weight benches
• Free weights/dumbbells
• Squat racks
• Resistance bands
• Other fitness equipment

Your support helps our firefighters maintain the physical fitness needed to respond to emergencies safely and effectively.

Please send us a message if you have anything available. Thank you for supporting our department and community! 🚒💪

06/04/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday, Lieutenant Tyler Vanderveen!🎉

We would also like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Tyler and his wife, Katie, on the birth of their beautiful daughter, Caroline Margaret, who was born yesterday. Mom and baby are both doing great!

Lieutenant Vanderveen has been a dedicated member of the East Sullivan County Fire Department since 2022 and has proudly served as a Lieutenant for the past two years. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our department, holding certifications as a Firefighter II, Tennessee Paramedic, and Registered Nurse, along with numerous emergency management and technical rescue certifications. Tyler is also a Wildland Firefighter II and remains one of the most active, dependable, and committed members of our organization.

Today, we celebrate not only Tyler’s birthday, but also this exciting new chapter for the Vanderveen family.

🚒🔥 Please join us in wishing Lieutenant Vanderveen a very Happy Birthday and congratulating Tyler and Katie on this wonderful addition to their family! 🎉👶

05/26/2026

🎉 Happy Birthday, Assistant Chief Matt Kegley 🎉

Assistant Chief Kegley has been a dedicated member of the East Sullivan County Fire Department since 2006 and steadily worked his way up—first becoming a Lieutenant, then Captain, and eventually Assistant Fire Chief in 2018, a position he proudly continues to hold.

With 20 years of service, Chief Kegley has earned the honor of Lifetime Member and remains one of our department’s most active and committed members. He holds numerous state certifications—including Firefighter II and HazMat Technician. Chief Kegley plays a vital role in teaching many of our annual in-service classes.

🚒🔥 Please join us in wishing Chief Kegley a very Happy Birthday and thanking him for his continued dedication to our community! 🎉

05/16/2026

Effective today, burn permits issued through the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry are no longer required for open burning in Sullivan County through October 15, 2026.

Although permits are not required during this period, all outdoor burning must still comply with all applicable Tennessee Division of Forestry regulations, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regulations, local ordinances, and all other applicable state laws.

The following safety requirements shall be observed at all times:

• Fires shall be constantly attended and supervised until fully extinguished
• An adequate means of fire control and extinguishment shall be immediately available at the burn site
• Open burning shall not be conducted within an unsafe distance of structures, vehicles, combustible materials, woodlands, or other exposures
• Burning shall not be conducted during hazardous weather or wind conditions that could contribute to fire spread or create a public safety hazard

Any person conducting open burning in violation of applicable laws, regulations, or safety requirements may be subject to enforcement action, citations, suppression costs, civil penalties, and/or criminal penalties as prescribed by Tennessee law.

Please burn responsibly and help protect the citizens, visitors, property, and natural resources of Sullivan County.

05/16/2026

We would like to take this time to congratulate Anthony Walden and Kiersten Dillow on the birth of their twin boys, Hayes and Henry Walden, born on 5/14/26.

Hayes was born at 8:41 AM weighing 6 lbs. 13 oz., and Henry was born at 8:42 AM weighing 6 lbs. 1 oz.

Mom and both babies are doing great! Congratulations to the entire family on this exciting blessing.

05/15/2026

We would like to thank Highlands Emergency Air Rescue & Transport for coming to Sullivan East Middle School last night to provide LZ training for our new members. We appreciate your time, knowledge, and dedication to helping our personnel gain valuable hands-on experience and training. HICKORY TREE VOL FIRE DEPT.

04/25/2026

HICKORY TREE VOL FIRE DEPT. Fire chief taking it easy at FDIC

04/25/2026

Day #2 of FDIC 2026 once again members of our department and our friends of HICKORY TREE VOL FIRE DEPT. Had a wonderful day of meeting and learning about new equipment and also got to demo some tools today.

04/23/2026

Day 1 of 2026 FDIC members of East and HICKORY TREE VOL FIRE DEPT. Attended leaning about new equipment and fire apparatus.

04/04/2026