Chattanooga fire chief lays out three-year plan after department records dip in fires and spike in EMS calls
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Summary
Chief Knowles presented a 2026–2028 strategic plan to Chattanooga City Council, citing just over 22,000 calls in 2025, a roughly 100-fire decline from 2024, and an increase in EMS/rescue calls to about 10,018. The plan emphasizes prevention, wellness, training and station planning.
Chattanooga’s fire chief presented a three-year strategic plan to City Council on Jan. 6, highlighting a modest drop in fires last year alongside a sharp rise in emergency medical responses.
Chief Knowles told council the department ran “just over 22,000 calls of service in 2025,” and reported that fires were down by about 100 incidents while EMS and rescue calls rose to “10,018.” The presentation described the plan as a single framework to connect the department’s vision with operations, staff training and equipment replacement.
The plan centers on four themes: operational excellence, community trust and engagement, wellness, and organizational resilience. Initiatives include an expanded fire prevention bureau, a community risk-reduction feasibility study, formalized emergency housing partnerships, and an expanded connect program aimed at post-incident follow-up and prevention efforts.
Knowles outlined personnel and equipment priorities: enhanced officer development and leadership training, formal physical and mental-health benchmarks, succession planning for administrative roles where many employees will be retirement-eligible in the next three to five years, and equipment replacement plans. The department received six new engines in 2025 and expects 10 new trucks in 2026, the chief said.
On operational readiness, the plan calls for standardizing communication, a quartermaster program for uniforms and equipment management, and a readiness plan tied to ISO Class 1 evaluation cycles. Knowles also highlighted a new drill tower and a redesigned training system to make better use of that asset.
Council members asked what accounted for the reported 15% reduction in fires from 2024 to 2025. Knowles credited public education and outreach by the department’s fire-prevention staff, including school visits and neighborhood outreach, and said the department will expand those efforts as part of the plan.
The presentation closed with the chief introducing his command staff and inviting council questions. Council expressed support for the goals and the emphasis on firefighter wellness, while members asked to see follow-up materials and implementation milestones as the plan moves into execution.
