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History
Avoca Volunteer Fire Department came about after a brush fire in one of the Avoca area subdivisions in Sullivan County, Tennessee in 1959. Some of the residents recognized that if there was a major fire in our area of Sullivan County, response time by the closest volunteer fire department in our county would be unacceptable.
Three of the residents met to decide on ways to raise the funds to establish a volunteer fire department. They selected a resident from each of the subdivisions in the area, and met with these representatives. Each representative would canvas their area to solicit support for the proposed department. These representatives then met and elected a Board of Directors and incorporated the new organization as a non-profit organization with the State of Tennessee. A variety of fund raising efforts netted $5,500, after door-to-door solicitation another $2,000 was raised, and the County Commission agreed to match the funds to start the department.
The first truck purchased in 1960 was a 1950 Ford fire truck purchased from a realtor in Kingsport, Tennessee for $2,200. The truck was stationed at a local service station (owned by one of the Board members), and all fire calls were received at that location. Fire calls were then placed to selected members, who in turn each called other members.
In late 1960, property for a permanent location on Highway 11-E (Volunteer Parkway) was donated to the Department, and construction of a building was begun. The building was completed in 1961, and the Department had a home.
Avoca Volunteer Fire Department operated from this location, even after the area around the building was annexed by the city of Bristol Tennessee in the early 1970’s, and continued to serve the county residents outside of Bristol. In 1989, property was purchased outside of Bristol, and construction of a new Building was started. In early 1990, Avoca Volunteer Fire Department moved into the new, present location on Beaver Creek Road.
Avoca Volunteer Fire Department has received much support from the residents of Sullivan County for the last 43 years, and looks forward to serving our community for many years to come. We are proud that we have been able to assist in the formation of additional volunteer fire departments in our county, affording our residents some of the best, if not the best, fire departments in the State of Tennessee. We were able to meet the requirements of the Insurance Services Office of the State of Tennessee, and our residents enjoy the benefits of a Class 5 insurance Rating, one of the best ratings for an unincorporated area in the State. Less than 4% of the volunteer fire departments in Tennessee have achieved this rating.
Our 35 active members hold certifications as Firefighters with many also having certifications an EMT and Paramedic.
our past and valued members
AVFD Deceased Members
(Rev.04/03/10)
Bob Austin
Mike Austin
Don Baxter November 8, 2001
H. C. Beverly
Al Brinsfield
Gary Burton
Tracy Burton
David Deakins
David Franklin October 10, 2001
Irvin Galliher
Conley Gentry ?
Fred Gooden
Delmar Haga 1983
Lewis Harkleroad October , 2004
Cricket Hatcher
John Hayes January 4, 2001
Susie Herrington
John Hodges November 17, 2004
Bruce Huffine
Frank Hughes April 3, 1982
Bill Jessee March 16, 1998
Walter Kercheim
J. O. Leslie
Vince Malloy March 13, 1997
Hugh Miller
Roy Morton March 3, 1990
Willey Mullins
Carl O’Dell
Claude Prince March 4, 1989
Fred Rasnake March 26, 2001
Herbert W. Rutherford January 26, 2007
Kenny Smith July 1, 1990
Neal Trinkle November 18, 1998
Winston Herrington (Station C )
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