TFACA Instructors, Equipment Highlight the Smoky Mountain Weekend
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Fire Service & Codes Academy (TFACA) instructors and firefighting equipment will be highlighted during the three day (May 1-3) Smoky Mountain Weekend in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
The event, which enters its 17th year, is the largest annual firefighter training event in Tennessee with more than 1,100 firefighters from across the U.S. expected to attend. TFACA will play a prominent role in the event with its equipment and instructors featured in nearly half the weekend’s 45 classes.
“Training the next generation of firefighters is crucial to the success of the fire service,” said TFACA Executive Director Roger Hawks. “Whether our training occurs at our facility in Bell Buckle or elsewhere, TFACA’s mission of educating firefighters remains the same. We are proud to be a part of the Smoky Mountain Weekend.”
During the three-day event, firefighters will gain valuable classroom and practical training experience in a variety of sessions including leadership classes, equipment operation and social media marketing for fire departments.
Teaching agencies include TFACA, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the University of Tennessee Industrial Service Group, the Tennessee Federation of Fire Chaplains and the Sevier County Fire Chiefs Association, which is the event’s sponsoring agency.
“TFACA has been vital in driving the success of the Smoky Mountain Weekend,” said City of Sevierville Fire Chief and Sevier County Fire Chiefs Association President Matt Henderson. “From our humble beginnings 17 years ago to enrolling over 1,000 students for classes this year, the event is made possible through our partnerships with organizations like TFACA and the dedication of the members of the fire service in Sevier County. We are looking forward to another 17 years of success.”
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About the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy: Located on 330 acres in northern Bedford County, the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy prepares first responders for situations they will commonly face using ‘live’ simulations and training exercises. The academy provides nearly 500 courses annually to fire departments, codes professionals and other emergency response agencies throughout the state.
About the Department of Commerce and Insurance: The state Department of Commerce and Insurance is a diverse entity of six divisions charged with protecting the interests of consumers while providing fair, efficient oversight and a level field of competition for a broad array of industries and professionals doing business in Tennessee. Our divisions include the Division of Consumer Affairs, the Division of Insurance, the Division of Securities, the Division of TennCare Oversight, the Division of Fire Prevention and the Division of Regulatory Boards.