Exactly one week after initial deployment, all of Murfreesboro Fire & Rescue's crews and personnel have returned from Gatlinburg.

The third and final team sent, along with Shift Commander Tim Swann and Fire Chaplain/Captain Lee Douglas were demobilized late Sunday night. They spent Sunday night resting in Pigeon Forge and arrived back at Fire Administration Monday afternoon. MFRD's apparatus were the last of the out-of-county resources to be demobilized.

The department sent 50 personnel over the course of the event to assist with the uncontained wildfires. This included a rotation of staffing for two ladder trucks and an engine, two chief officers, and the fire chaplain.

Crews were placed into action immediately upon arrival, as the city had already experienced a catastrophic loss of numerous residential and commercial properties. MFRD assisted local and mutual aid firefighters with the suppression of several residential fires and search and rescue efforts. MFRD personnel also staffed Gatlinburg fire stations and were able to cover medical and fire calls, while the GFD mitigated the wildfires and continued with search and rescue.

"All of our personnel did an outstanding job and performed in a manner that exudes who MFRD is as a department," said Fire Rescue Chief Mark Foulks. "Additionally, we forged relationships that will last a lifetime."

Chief Foulks added, "The emergency response phase for this event may be over, but the recovery phase for Gatlinburg is just beginning. Please continue to keep the community in your prayers."

Team 1 Crew Members:

Captain Jeff Irvin, Fire Trainee Brenner Ballard, Firefighter Jamie Layhew, Firefighter Corey Friend, Firefighter John Fisher, Firefighter Sean Wheeler, Engineer Adam Petrig, Captain Raymond Smith, Engineer Chad Davis, Captain/Shift Inspector Wade Williams, Firefighter Jacob Follis, Firefighter Josh Warren, Firefighter Jeff Clementi, Firefighter Matt Henry, and Firefighter Jonathan Gaither. Not pictured, Engineer Ronald Nobles.

Team 2 Crew Members:

Shift Commander Tim Swann, Firefighter Troy Thomas, Firefighter Travis Bryant, Engineer Jimmy Barrett, Captain Hunter Fite, Engineer Joshua Parsons, Firefighter Kernie Cothran, Captain Blake Insell, Captain Tim Lampitt, Firefighter Andrew Kindle, Firefighter Rob Vaughter, Engineer Wesley Slager, Firefighter Jeremy Morris, Firefighter Justin McCraven, Firefighter Julia Pitt, and Firefighter Nathan Jones.

Team 3 Crew Members:

Firefighter Davey Ferrell, Firefighter Zach Fleenor, Captain David Frost, Firefighter Lucas Dearden, Firefighter Brent Stephens, Engineer Tim Rowlett, Firefighter Jonathan Parsons, Captain Mark McCluskey, Firefighter Allen Debowsky, Firefighter Eric Compton, Firefighter Anthony Cayll, Engineer Richard Crick, and Captain Mike Adams.