Rural Metro Fire
KNOX COUNTY

Visit our community landing page to verify your address or call Rural Metro Fire at 865.560.0239.

Emergency Fire Services:
- Fire Suppression
- Emergency Medical Response
- Vehicle Accident Response
- Vehicle Extrication Services
- Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
- Smoke Alarm Activations
- Rescue Services
- Pet Resuscitation During Fire Events

Prevention:
- Residential and Commercial Fire
- Inspections
- Fire Plan Reviews
- Home Safety Checks
- Smoke Alarm Checks

Non-Emergency Services:
- Community Outreach
- Public Safety Events
- Home Safety Checks
- Smoke Alarm Checks

Living in an unincorporated community has benefits, such as a lower cost of living and lower property taxes.  Part of the property tax collected in a municipality pays for public safety, such as the fire department.

In unincorporated communities, there are no such taxes for fire departments.  Rural Metro Fire is a non-governmental fire department that has been providing fire and EMS services in Knox County since 197. Rural Metro Fire provides the professional emergency service you deserve and expect when you call for help.  

Instead of funding from taxes, we rely on annual Rural Metro Fire memberships to provide professional training, vehicles, and equipment for services in your community.  We do not receive any money from Fire District Assistance Tax listed on your property tax statement. That money goes to other fire districts outside of Rural Metro Fire’s service area.

You'll be billed for any fire department response. Response fees can be significant depending on the resources required.

Charges are assessed at a minimum rate of $1,500.00 per hour per firefighting vehicle plus $150.00 per hour per firefighter ($1,500.00 minimum response charge) for fire suppression.

*Commercial properties are assessed at higher rates.

A minimum rate of $600.00 per call is assessed for Emergency Medical Services.

Homeowners’ insurance will cover property damage and loss of contents if there is a fire and medical insurance will cover your ambulance transport*, but neither covers Fire Department response charges.  

*If transported by ambulance, the ambulance provider bills medical insurance.

When you call 911 for a medical emergency, the 911 dispatch center will dispatch both a fire engine and an ambulance so that you can quickly receive care from a certified/licensed medic.  If a Rural Metro Fire engine responds and you are a member, there will be no charge for the care that the Rural Metro Fire engine medics provide.  

Rural Metro Fire offers many payment options.  Our members can choose from: annual, quarterly, and monthly payments.  We also offer an autopay option, for peace of mind that your payments are being made on time.  We recommend signing up for autopay when you enroll as a new member.

*3-year pre-pay options are also available.

All Rural Metro Fire firefighters are certified (Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). The 911 dispatch center sends the closest, most appropriate medic to your call for help.

This might be a fire engine because ambulances are on the street or at hospitals with a patient. Also, the firefighters on the fire engine assist the ambulance crew to further increase the level of patient care to you or your family member. This all depends on the nature of the call and the medical history of the patient we are responding to.

Our mission is to take care of you or your family member with the highest level of care available.

As Rural Metro membership fees are non-refundable; it is the member’s responsibility to work with their title company when selling their home. Title companies may pro-rate your remaining membership fees and credit you at closing.