Beginning Monday, September 23, 2019, a burn permit will be required to start an open air fire within five hundred feet (500’) of any forest, grassland or woodland

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry is keeping a close eye on weather conditions as our state experiences a prolonged hot and dry pattern. Fortunately, we have not seen an increase in the number of wildfires over the past few weeks. Fire danger indices that we routinely monitor remain in low to moderate status. While these metrics are positive, we certainly recognize municipal and county concerns with the weather and appreciate the cooperation with managing expectations of our residents and visitors in wildfire prevention. We also recognize local governments are responding to these conditions, and we want to support them as best we can. As such, in addition to continued monitoring and initial attack as needed, we want to make you aware of our short-term strategy as we prepare to enter our usual fall fire season.

Elements of this strategy include:

1. Increased fire prevention messaging

2. Early launch of our Safe Debris Burn Permitting system beginning Monday, September 23

3. Providing county governments with tools we have available with assisting them; including instructions for implementing a Commissioner of Agriculture Burn Ban (typically implemented on a county level) Fire Prevention Messaging Broadcast news outlets are already well aware of municipal burn restrictions and are actively connecting weather forecasts with fire danger.

Our agency is reminding citizens to use precaution and good sense when burning outdoors where it is allowed. We encourage our partners to direct citizens to BurnSafeTN.org for safe debris burning tips and fire weather information links. We also have targeted print, radio, TV and online messaging prepared for fall fire season that promotes safe debris burning and encourages homeowners to protect their homes through the Firewise USA program.

We are also actively working with communities within the Fire Adapted Communities program to build partnerships that inform and prepare residents to collaboratively plan and take action to safely co-exist with wildland fire.

Early Launch of State Burn Permitting While current fire danger indices remain low to moderate, this hot and dry weather pattern has potential to create more volatile conditions as we enter fall fire season when our hardwood forests shed their leaves and create a heavier fuel load on the ground. In an effort to get ahead of this threat, I am utilizing Tennessee Wildfire Law 39-14-306 to prescribe a period outside of our typical requirement for setting open air fires without a permit.

Beginning Monday, September 23, 2019, a burn permit will be required to start an open air fire within five hundred feet (500’) of any forest, grassland or woodland. Permits, if issued on any given day, will be available by phone or online at BurnSafeTN.org. Safe Debris Burn Permits have proven to be an effective tool at making residents aware of when, where, and how it is safe to conduct a debris burn.

If conditions are not conducive for safe debris burning, we will not issue permits. It is important to note that this action does not equate to a burn ban. Burning without a permit is a burn restriction that has legal ramifications – specifically, a violation is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to a 30 day sentence and/or $50 fine.

Mayor Foster started working on the broadband issue in Cumberland County last September and started meeting with our current providers in October. Then in March of this year, he met with Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative. They talked in detail about the issues we have here and how BTC could help.

Now, Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative is applying for a Tennessee Broadband Accessibility Grant to provide the community in the general vicinity of the Vandever area between Hwy 101 and Hwy 127 with a fiber optic network.

Demonstration of community support for an enhanced broadband network is a critical component of the grant process. Visit btcfiber.com/cumberland and fill out the survey online to help us connect more of our communities to fiber internet!

When: October 5, 2019

8:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Where: Cumberland County Community Complex

1398 Livingston Rd Crossville TN 38555 

What: Household Hazardous Waste is defined as corrosive, flammable, toxic, or reactive materials used in your home, car or truck, or lawn/garden that is unwanted or unusable.

Drop off is FREE! You can dispose of all those left-over household chemicals, lawn and garden products, and automotive materials that you’ve never known what to do with!

NO Medical or Infectious Waste (besides needles and sharps in puncture-proof containers), Explosives, Ammunition, Radioactive waste including smoke detectors, or any empty containers.

Click on the flyer below for more information on what kind of items to bring:

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION DAY FLYER

2020 Census Address Canvassing is happening NOW!

All 2020 Census address canvassers are updating addresses in our county.

They will have ID badge, laptop, and Census 2020 shoulder bags.

Should you need to verify the identity of a Census employee, you can call the Philadelphia Regional Office at 215-717-1800 or 1-800-262-4236.

Cumberland County Emergency Medical Services is proud to announce two Cumberland County Paramedics receive their Critical Care Paramedic licensure, the highest level of licensure for a Paramedic.

Training Officer Bethany Mangas and Assistant Supervisor Crystal Dunbar recently graduated from a Critical Care Paramedic Program at Roane State in Knoxville, TN.  This program is recognized by the Tennessee Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services Division and involves more than 150 classroom and clinical hours.

A Critical Care Paramedic provides care during transport and in special situations with such devices as catheters, ventilators, tracheotomy tubes, surgical airway and chest tubes.  Also included is care for cardiac intervention and advanced therapeutic devices and 12-lead electrocardiograms.

We are thrilled to announce that our Cumberland County Kickoff was a success!

Are you interested in becoming a volunteer or member with MyRide? Call 833-9MY-RIDE (969-7433) M-F 8 – 4:30 or email myride@uchra.com to learn more!

#crossvilletn #cumberlandcountytn #putnamcountytn #cookeville #cookevilletn #uppercumberlandtn #volunteering #TennesseeServes

Click Here: TDOT Project Status

Cumberland County Cardiac Pulmonary Rehabilitation Alumni, Inc. presents Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster and EMS Director Chris Miller a check for $2,475.00. This amount is made up of $2,250 from a Volunteer Energy Cooperative Customer Share Program Grant which was submitted by CCCPRA and a $225.00 donation from CCCPRA.

The donation will be used to significantly upgrade 3 Cumberland County EMS trucks with the latest technology in VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPE. These video units help patients’ breath while being transported and give EMS personnel real time video of any obstructions. These recordings then give emergency room personnel a better picture of a patients’ condition upon arrival.

The Cumberland County Cardiac Pulmonary Alumni, Inc. is making an appeal for tax exempt donations to purchase 9 additional units ($7,425). This will provide units for all 12 EMS trucks. If you would like more information on how to help this organization, please contact C.C.C.P.R.A, Inc., P.O. Box 14, Crossville TN 38557 or text Linda Trotter at 931-445-4450.

25+ Paramedics of the Cumberland County Emergency Medical Services recently completed the program to receive their Vent Certification. Taught by Vanderbilt Lifeflight, the program included a week long class and an 8 hour clinical in the Intensive Care Unit at Cookeville Regional Medical Center.

Cumberland County is the only county in the Upper Cumberland with a vent unit facility, Wyndridge Health and Rehabilitation. With this facility location Cumberland County has a higher need to transport patients that are vent dependent. This valuable vent certification will allow the County’s Paramedics to safely and effectively transport critical and non-critical patients.

The Upper Cumberland Health Coalition assisted in purchasing the transport vent equipment for the Cumberland County EMS vehicles.