Wears Valley Tn. Hatcher Mountain Fire

Hello, my name is Leonard Riggins I am the Fire Chief of the Pittman Center Community Vol. Fire Dept in Gatlinburg Tn. It's really sad that I am writing this story.

On March 30, 2022, the PCFD and all Sevier County agencies were called to a fast-moving brush fire in the Wears Valley Tn. area. Shortly after arriving at a staging area, PCFD and a few other FD trucks were given an assignment. Once on scene, the brave men fought the fire the best that they could for as long as they could. It came to the point that the fire became so intense that they had to abandon their post and retreat into a house they were trying to protect. Once in there, they realized that the home they were in was now on fire. The only escape route was thru the back of the home and into the woods. Luckily, they were able to escape and get off the mountain. Unfortunately, all the fire trucks got burnt up in the fire that overtook the firefighters. Trucks can be replaced, but not can we ever replace our loved ones.  We do have insurance on the fire trucks and all the equipment on them. In today's prices, everything has gone up, and the cost of a new fire truck and equipment is no different, but we will survive and continue our services as we always have.

I would like to say this; We are a 501 C (3) non-profit organization. Our primary funding comes from our county government, fundraiser dinners, boot drives, and also donations from great people like you. Every penny is used to pay insurance on the buildings, equipment, truck payments, training, truck repairs, equipment purchases, everyday bills like electric, gas and diesel fuel for the trucks, propane for heating the stations, phone and the list of expenses goes on. I can assure you that any money donated will be used to help our community FD in general. As a volunteer dept, in times like these, insurance helps but never covers all the expenses incurred. Most if not all volunteer FDs don't have money lying around to cover big expenses.

Thank you again for anything you can donate, it is very much appreciated, and it will help in ways that you can't imagine.