Father-Son Team Runs Tennessee Fire Dept for 50 Years

When Frank Solomon came home for dinner in 1975 and saw his neighbor's house on fire, he realized his Tennessee community had no one to call for help. That moment changed everything.

Frank started the New Market Volunteer Fire Department in Jefferson County that same year. More than five decades later, the 76-year-old chief still responds to emergencies alongside his son Sammy, who serves as captain.

"I don't get paid. I drove a school bus 58 years," Frank says. "But we like to help people, that's most of all."

The department is one of eight volunteer stations in Jefferson County, staffed by about 30 firefighters who each serve at least 40 hours monthly. Most work full-time jobs during the day, rushing to calls whenever the alarm sounds.

The father-son duo faces the same challenges plaguing volunteer fire departments nationwide: increasing call volumes and shrinking volunteer rosters. When daytime emergencies happen and most volunteers are at work, they depend on neighboring departments for backup.

To keep the station running, the department hosts live music every Saturday night to raise funds for equipment and training. Every dollar matters when you're protecting a community that stretches all the way to the Knox County line.

Sunny's Take

For Frank, the reward isn't a paycheck. It's the moment someone whose life you saved looks you in the eye and says thank you.

"When you save somebody's life or something out here and people thank you for what you do, that's the main thing," Frank explains. "That's what makes me want to do it more."

Sammy echoes his father's commitment, reminding neighbors that volunteer firefighters are the backbone of emergency response in most of America. Without them responding at all hours, who would come when you dial 911?

The department now includes a second station in nearby Strawberry Plains. Frank hopes to add a third location soon to better serve the growing area.

The New Market station is always looking for new volunteers willing to train and serve their neighbors, proving that Frank's mission from 1975 still burns bright today.