Tennessee firefighters who’ve died in the line of duty are getting their own monument.
Right now, there is only an artist’s rendering of the monument, but fire officials will dedicate the site today at the Tennessee Fire Service Academy in Bell Buckle.
Roger Hawks directs the fire academy.
“It’s a very hazardous occupation. Right now about four firefighters die on average in the line of duty. Over the years, we’ve made some progress, but unfortunately there are still accidents and deaths that take place.”
Tennessee’s fire academy has trained 18-thousand firefighters since it opened in 2001.
There is no certification requirement for the state’s firefighters, so the training they receive is voluntary.
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