Volunteer firefighters cut the ribbon with Dane Bradshaw, president of Thunder Enterprises (far left); James Wessel, founder of the Jasper Highlands Volunteer Fire Department (second from left); Chief Lowell Hardin (sixth from left); John Thornton, owner and developer of Thunder Enterprises (far right)
Jasper Highlands, owned by Thunder Enterprises, recently constructed a new 3,700 square foot fire station for the Southeast Tennessee mountaintop community. First responders, elected officials and community members gathered last Saturday, Nov. 4, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and exclusive tours of the facility.
“Thank you to all of the volunteers who take time out of their lives to serve on the volunteer fire department,” said Marion County Mayor David Jackson. “To all of you who have moved here, you have been great for this county and we welcome you. John, thank you for what you and this development have done for Marion County.”
Developer John Thornton, the Jasper Highlands Volunteer Fire Department (JHFD) and Jasper Highlands Development partnered to construct a $500,000 improvement project that included the fire station and a community center inside Jasper Highlands’ community green space called Inspiration Park.
“Day in and day out the JHFD volunteer firefighters protect our homes and our entire community,” said Mr. Thornton, owner and developer of Jasper Highlands and CEO of Thunder Enterprises. “The development of this fire station has been a goal for our community for quite some time, and we are proud to have the opportunity to provide our firefighters with the trucks and equipment they need. The groundbreaking in May marked a successful year of operation for the JHFD, and today, we celebrate and commemorate the incredible work of our firefighters by dedicating this building together.”
In October 2016, the JHFD earned an ISO Class 4 rating, as well the advent of emergency medical services. The top ISO rating and fire department based medical assistance were both the first of their kind in Marion County.
“This project would not have been made possible without the generosity of John Thornton and the devotion of our volunteer firefighters,” said James Wessel, president of the JHFD and a homeowner at Jasper Highlands. “Our team has worked diligently to serve our community, and the new fire station will allow us to keep the citizens of Jasper Highlands safe and secure.”
The fire station features bays for four fire engines, equipment storage and room to facilitate various training opportunities. It also includes a community room to serve as a welcoming forum and meeting place for residents seeking to become involved in the department. The JHFD purchased a wildland fire vehicle to expand protection services on Jasper Highlands from grass and wildland fires. The JHFD will receive additional training on wildland fire suppression and offer prevention classes to the community.
For more information about the JHFD and Jasper Highlands, visit www.TNLand.com or follow Jasper Highlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.