Established on August 8, 1968, the Johnson City Firefighters Association L-1791 is a proud affiliate of the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Tennessee Professional Firefighters Association. Our members are dedicated to protecting the residents, workers, and visitors of Johnson City.

Comprising approximately 98% of the full-time, career personnel of the Johnson City Fire Department, our members are actively engaged in fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, and fire prevention efforts.

The Johnson City Fire Department responded to over 10,426 incidents in 2024, including fires, fire alarms, emergency medical responses, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues, and various service calls.

As a full-time career department, the Johnson City Fire Department serves a population of 74,814 residents, along with 12,390 East Tennessee State University students, 400 Veterans Affairs–Mountain Home residents, and thousands of daily commuters. The department consists of 147 personnel, with 123 members dedicated to fire suppression, hazardous materials response, and emergency medical operations. Operating on a three-shift system, approximately 41 firefighters are on duty per 24-hour shift. Firefighters respond from nine strategically located fire stations, utilizing nine engine companies, three ladder trucks, and two incident command vehicles.

The department maintains a highly skilled workforce, including hazardous materials technicians, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) Haz-Mat specialists, structural collapse technicians, and rope rescue specialists. To meet the growing demand for specialized emergency response, the department is actively developing dedicated teams for hazardous materials incidents, confined-space rescues, and urban search and rescue (USAR) operations with a swiftwater rescue component. These teams continuously refine their expertise to enhance the department’s technical rescue capabilities.

Emergency medical response is an integral part of the department’s operations, with personnel consisting of paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and first responders. All nine engine companies are equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs), intravenous (IV) fluids, and vehicle extrication tools, ensuring rapid and effective response to medical emergencies and motor vehicle accidents.

Through dedication, rigorous training, and a commitment to excellence, the Johnson City Firefighters Association L-1791 continues to serve and protect the citizens of Johnson City with professionalism and pride.