Blog: City Blog

Fire Department Remembers Fallen Firefighters, Observes Fire Prevention Week

City officials and residents last month commemorated two important anniversaries with the Knoxville Fire Department.

Check out the Oct. 20, 2022 annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service in the video below.

At this solemn service, we honored the 24 City firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty, dating back to 1875, when the City’s fire department was a volunteer unit.

At the service, attendees also remembered our 15 City firefighters who have passed away this past year.

It’s bittersweet, but it’s right to annually remember those members of the KFD family whom we’ve lost.

For 137 years, KFD has earned a reputation for selflessness, sacrifice and professionalism.

It’s often stated: Most of us run from danger, but a firefighter heads toward it.

The previous week, the Knoxville Fire Department observed the 100th anniversary of National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9-15, 2022).

Check out the video below of KFD's Oct. 14, 2022 evening of free, all-ages activities on Market Square in downtown Knoxville.

Attendees received fire prevention tips and underwent Stop the Bleed training. They also learned about career opportunities in firefighting and how to apply to be a KFD Firefighter Recruit. And there were marshmallow roastings and chances to explore a fire truck.

National Fire Prevention Week was first held in 1922 by the National Fire Protection Association. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance. The week of Oct. 9 was chosen to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, which began Oct. 8, 1871, and killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

Posted by evreeland On 17 November, 2022 at 7:46 PM