First Responders within Hamilton County is provided by the Volunteer Fire Departments and several municipal fire departments. The Chattanooga Fire Department responds to 9-1-1 calls within the Chattanooga city limits. The cities of Red Bank, Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain and Soddy Daisy have municipal fire departments and respond to 9-1-1 calls in their districts. 9-1-1 calls outside the city limits relies on the Volunteer Fire Department agencies. First Response is provided under the oversight of Hamilton County E.M.S, while adhering to the State of Tennessee Guidelines. Each responder must complete a course and pass a State test before they receive their certification. They must be affiliated with an emergency agency and be part of a First Responder program.

Each volunteer fire department provides first responder coverage within their response district. Most first responder calls are at a Basic Life Support level, although, Soddy Daisy Fire Department provides full Advance Life Support coverage. Each of the volunteer agencies participates in active Quality Assurance, Mutual Aid meetings, First Responder meetings, annual training and coordinating questions in conjunction with the Medical Director.

Medical equipment and supplies are provided by the individual agencies and replaced through the Hamilton County E.M.S. Supply Division. Inspections of the individual agency vehicles are performed on an annual basis through H.C.E.M.S. Records of personnel, level of licensure, and patient contacts, are maintained through the response agency and the H.C.E.M.S. Training Division.

First Responder criteria is based on the type of emergency need, the severity of injury, and the response time of the E.M.S. unit assigned to the call. Radio coordination of all assigned units on each response is through several talk groups on the County 800mhz radio system. Units responding on each call are tasked with changing to the assigned talk radio channel for coordination for response and pertinent patient information.

Hamilton County Volunteer Fire Departments

Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue

Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department

Flat Top Volunteer Fire Department

Hamilton County Hazardous Materials Team

Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department

Mowbray Mountain Volunteer Fire Department

Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department

Sequoyah Volunteer Fire Department

Special Tactics and Rescue Services (S.T.A.R.S.)

Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department

Volunteer State Water Rescue

Walden’s Ridge Emergency Services

Municipal Fire Departments within Hamilton County

Chattanooga Fire Department

Lookout Mountain Department of Public Safety

Red Bank Fire Department

Soddy Daisy Fire Department

Signal Mountain Fire Department