Crossville could add two fire stations over the next decade to keep pace with growth after maintaining its Class 3/3X fire protection rating.
Crossville Fire Chief Chris South said the city completed its first full Insurance Services Office evaluation since 2016. The assessment examined firefighting operations, response times, water infrastructure and emergency communications despite significant growth across the city.
“I’m very proud of our department, our city, and then our 9-1-1 center, everyone for being able to meet that mark, because that’s a pretty high mark,” South said. “That’s going to provide the best savings you can have for residential customers, and it’s also going to provide good insurance savings for our commercial industries as well.”
South said the department anticipates building and staffing a third fire station within five years, with a fourth potentially needed within 10 to 12 years. Development extending beyond the city’s center is creating additional demands for emergency coverage.
“We do feel that the addition of another fire station and some personnel to just accommodate the growth will be required,” South said. “So we’ve got that in our 10-year plan.”
South said relocating Fire Station 2 from Industrial Boulevard to Cottonpatch Drive helped improve response times and coverage in the city’s northern district. Automatic aid agreements with the Cumberland County Fire Department also strengthened personnel and equipment availability.
The city has three new fire trucks scheduled for delivery beginning in July 2027, including a second ladder truck. South said two of the vehicles were designed to address deficiencies identified through previous ISO evaluations, with the department hoping to eventually improve its classification.
“My expectation for the Crossville Fire Department is the next time we do an evaluation, I hope to not only maintain but would even like to improve to a two,” South said. “That is what we’re shooting for.”
South said ISO ratings range from one to ten, with one representing the highest level of fire protection. The classifications help determine insurance premiums for residential and commercial properties, making the city’s ability to maintain its rating important for property owners.
South said city leadership has supported the department’s equipment and infrastructure needs as officials balance the cost of future expansion with maintaining adequate fire protection.