Board approves consolidation of Midway and Gumtree fire districts and finances Gumtree station

The Davidson County Board of Commissioners voted on June 9 to consolidate the Midway and Gumtree fire and rescue service districts and to endorse financing for the Gumtree Fire Station.

County and fire officials presented the consolidation as a service‑level change that would expand staffing and unify response areas. Fire Chief Mike Craft and chiefs from participating departments attended the meeting to answer questions. Planning and fire staff said the consolidation is intended to expand services and could modestly improve fire insurance classification ratings; local officials said reclassification work by the state would follow and that any rating adjustment would be assessed after reinspection.

At the public hearing, a Southmont resident, Alice Coleman, asked whether consolidation would change response times for homeowners. Fire staff replied that no stations would be closed and that consolidation could add staffing, including 24‑hour staffing at Gumtree where coverage is now intermittent. Fire staff said they had used GIS maps to adjust response boundaries so that calls are routed to the nearest station and that the county planned to preserve a 100‑foot vegetative buffer where feasible for future park properties.

A motion that included adoption of the resolution, a statement of consistency, and endorsement of Gumtree Fire Station financing passed on a voice vote; the chair declared the motion carried.

Ending: Commissioners approved the consolidation and financing endorsement; staff said technical steps such as state reinspection and implementation of adjusted response maps will follow.