Smyrna fire chief outlines EMS surge, proposes training chief and EMS captain positions

Smyrna Fire Department Chief Goss told the Smyrna Town Council on July 8 that the department has seen a sharp rise in emergency medical calls this year and proposed staffing and operational changes intended to improve training and EMS oversight.

Goss said EMS calls grew from roughly 30% of the department's call volume early this year to about 72% since January, and that overall calls for service are up about 200% year‑to‑date. "Taking on these calls was the right thing to do," he said, adding that Smyrna crews now arrive at nearly half of medical scenes before Rutherford County ambulances.

Why it matters: The town's fire department is increasingly functioning as first responders to medical emergencies, placing new demands on training, scheduling and equipment. Chief Goss told the council the department needs dedicated leadership and a clearer operating structure to maintain response quality and regulatory compliance.

What the chief proposed and why: Goss described a recent job‑task analysis and administrative restructuring. The department will retain a single assistant chief role (Cameron Phelps was named second‑in‑command) and retitle remaining assistant chief roles as division chiefs, including naming James…