The Palmersville Volunteer Fire Department was Established in Early Part of 1978. Many people came together with a volunteer effort in the Palmersville Community to form the first Palmersville Fire Department
The Palmersville Ruritan Club voted to implement and establish the first Palmersville Fire Department .The club sought out professional help through . Some of the people had firefighter experience and were was very instrumental in helping set up the first Volunteer Fire Department in Palmersville. They had worked with other volunteer departments and knew what it took to get one established and the training it took to keep a fire department up and running , as well as being able to serve the public. Many people of Palmersville came together in the earley part of 1978 to form and establish the Palmersville Volunteer Fire Department.
Each household in the 38241 mailing area was sent a membership notice offering on a volunteer basis.The yearly fee was set at $ 25.00 per year membership to be covered in the Palmersville Fire Department service area . After a successful turnout the department purchased an 1955 Ford fire engine and began training to fight fires in the Palmersville Community.
A buddy system was set up , having no radios and pagers like we now have each fire firefighter was assigned a two buddies to call on the phone when notified by the Chef or the Captain as to the location and what house or farm each were dispatched to the fire site , the chain was made complete when all firefighters where notified and on the way to the location of the fire. After many days of training by David Mcalpin ,the fire Chief the Fire Department was ready to respond to fire calls ,that were in the past covered by the Wealkey Co. Forestry Department or the Dresden Tn. Fire Department located some
15 to 20 miles from the furthest house or farm in the 38241 zip code (Palmersville Community) area.
The first fire call came in in first part 1978 to the Reynolds Farm located 3.5 miles southeast of town and they responded to a grass fire The Department save a field of Jap seed from being destroyed. The first successful fire call saved
property, their goal was in place, to fight fires and save lives and prevent future property damage.
The second call came in February 16th of 1978 to the late Mr. Billy Danner's home it was a house fire . Mr.. Danner perished in the fire, it was located close to Latem Tn.
Some of the fire fighters in 1978 were Larry Mobery , Kenny Doster, Mark Mcalpin, Robert Perry, Larry Sides, Gail Ainely, Jerry Rachels, Marlin Fagan, Jimmy Winstead , the late Steve Donoho, Gary Olds, Dewey McClure, David Mcalpin
The fire Department responded 12 calls in in 1978 the average for the 35 years it has been in place. The Fire Department would have not been possible without the support of the whole Community of Palmersville
The first Palmersville Fire Department Board Members were Kenny Doster Chairman The late Mr. Tom Hardy . The late Mr. Willy Perry, The late Mr. Denny Watkins Comprised the Board members until 1980 when the board approved the late Mr. Eddie Steel, Bob Cantrell and Larry Mobery residing as Chairman as board members. The late Mr. Louis Mcalpin severed as board member . David Mcalpin was named Chef in 1980 Over the years many Palmersville residents served as board members.
I the late 1980s, the hard work of the late Mr. Hubert McKelvy residing as board member and Chairman was able to accrue money for the new Palmersveille Fire Depaertment which was donated from the late Mr. Jack Tucker Estate to establish a new fire house in Palmersville.
The first building to house the fire truck and water truck was in Mr. Willy Perry's grain storage building in Palmersville located at the feed mill. A building was purchased to store the Fire engine and equipment . The first Firehouse was located south of Morgans Service Station about 100 feet from the station. The Fire Department used this building until the funds for the new Fire house were donated by the Mr. Jack Tucker's Estate. The old Firehouse was about the size of a 20 by 30 foot structure. A red building with a sign over the door that read Palmersville Fire Department. Some of the equipment for the firehouse was donated by the Paris Fire Department. A bank loan was approved to add extra equipment needed to Fight Fire. Allot of training went into making the station a well oiled machine ,to make it a efficient Fire Department. Many lives and homes were saved , adjacent properties and out building were saved due to the fast response time now only a few miles from any home in the 38241 area.
Many Thanks to Joe David Laws the present fire Chief and David Mcalpin for finding this information in the first log books that were written in 1978 and are still on hand at the new Firehouse
David Mcalpin would later in the years become the Emergence Management Director For Weakley Co. and 911 Director.
More information will be added to this page as time permits.
The Fire Department would not have been possible with out the dedication of the fire fighters wives , every fundraiser and fish dinner are cooked by both the fire fighters and there wives of the Palmersville Fire Department.
The one question that never gets asked in the firehouse our in the field is the question. "Do you have my back" ? A firefighter depends on his fellow firefighter to have his back at all times !!
It is a honor for all who serve the Palmersville Community as Fire Fighters.
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