Kingsport Fire Department releases 2023 Annual Report
The Kingsport Fire Department responded to more than 8,000 incidents during 2023, with a majority of the calls being medical related. Structure and vehicle fires were comparable to the previous year and fortunately, no fire related deaths occurred within the city in 2023.
The Kingsport Fire Department recently issued its annual report, which gives a breakdown of the types and number of incidents firefighters responded to last year and how those numbers have changed since 2022.
The report also gives a brief history of the department, the highlights and major accomplishments of the previous year, along with the short term and long term goals of the department.
“We’re pleased with a number of accomplishments we made last year, including putting two new engines into service and ordering a new ladder truck to replace aging apparatus,” said Kingsport Fire Chief Scott Boyd. “These state-of-the-art vehicles will allow our firefighters to respond to a variety of incidents with all of the equipment they need to save lives and protect property.”
Major accomplishments by the KFD in 2023:
- Placed into service two new Pierce Velocity Engines at Fire Station #1.
- Partnered with the Dobyns-Bennett High School Fire Science program.
- Ordered a new ladder truck from Pierce Manufacturing.
- Ordered a new hazmat truck with funding assistance from Sullivan County.
- Purchased and placed into service three new heart monitors and 15 SCBA units.
- Hosted the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Association’s quarterly meeting.
- Restored the 1917 American LaFrance fire engine to operating condition.
Statistical information:
- Firefighters responded to 8,114 incidents.
- Number of structure fires – 113 (estimated loss $1.37 million)
- Number of vehicle fires – 45 (estimated loss $513,000)
- Number of medical calls – 5,935
- Number of fire related deaths – 0
- Number of inspections – 2,309
- Average response time – 5:15
- Total fire loss – nearly $1.9 million
Last year, nearly 41,000 adults and children participated in Kingsport Fire Department Community Risk Reduction (CRR) presentations and activities. The KFD also inspected and helped properly install 332 child passenger seats for families.
Kingsport is one of 32 communities across the state that enjoys an ISO rating of 2. Only seven communities in Tennessee have an ISO rating of 1.
As of December 2023, the Kingsport Fire Department had 122 personnel working in eight fire stations, serving a population of more than 55,400 residents living within 54 square miles.