Groveton Volunteer Fire Department

09/02/2026

Groveton Fire responded to two tree on power lines, thw first one was a couple miles out of Groveton HWY 94 East and the other was down Spencer 1 road off of 287 South.

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09/02/2026

We are forever grateful to these heroes that volunteer their time!

09/01/2026

Thank you to the Seale family for the water and Gatorade.

09/01/2026

Thank you, Andria Hill and Groveton Nursing Home for feeding the fireman last night. We really appreciate it.

09/01/2026

Thank you George and Betty for the Power Aid.

08/28/2026

🔥 FIREFIGHTER SHOUT-OUT — CHIEF Glenn Hammond🔥

As we bring this series of firefighter shout-outs to a close, it seems fitting that our final spotlight goes to Fire Chief Glenn Hammond.

Chief Hammond’s service to this community goes back many years and has taken several different forms. He has stepped away from the fire department at times, but service has always seemed to call him back.

Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Glenn was one of our community’s volunteer EMTs. For as long as there was a volunteer ambulance service here, Glenn was part of it. He responded after working all day, got up in the middle of the night, and gave up weekends and family time because someone in the community needed help.

His two children grew up watching their daddy volunteer. They saw firsthand what it meant to leave the supper table, get up in the middle of the night, or change family plans because someone else needed help.

Today, that example continues. Glenn and his son, Justin, make up one of the father-son teams on our fire department. His daughter, Sidney, has also carried that spirit of service into her own career, working for one of the largest volunteer organizations in the country. Service was never something their family just talked about—it was something their children grew up watching.

Glenn also spent his career working in fire service with the U.S. Forest Service, so protecting people, property, and communities has been a part of his life for decades.

But being Fire Chief is about much more than knowing how to fight a fire. A chief has to know how to lead people.

Glenn truly has a heart for this community, but he also has a heart for every firefighter who serves on this department. He knows that each member brings something different to the table and that each one is special in his own right. Glenn will be the first to tell you that this department could never be what it is without the men who answer the calls, train together, work together, and freely give their time to serve others.

At the same time, every successful department needs strong leadership.

Glenn works hard to guide the department in making good financial decisions, taking care of its equipment, planning for the future, and remembering that everything the department has is there for one purpose—to serve this community.

One of the things that makes this department so special is the camaraderie among its firefighters. They work together, laugh together, depend on one another, and genuinely care about each other. That kind of atmosphere doesn't just happen. Leaders can make or break an organization, and Glenn has worked hard to create a department where people want to serve and where every firefighter knows that what he brings to the department matters.

This particular shout-out is a little harder for the writer of this article to write because I don't just know Glenn as Chief Hammond.

I know the man who has walked out the door countless times to answer the call. I know the husband and father who has given up nights, weekends, holidays, sleep, and family time because someone needed help. I've watched him serve when nobody was watching, when there was no recognition to be had, and when the only reward was knowing that he had done what he could for someone else.

So, as we close out this series, maybe the best thing I can say is simply this:

Thank you, Chief Hammond, for a lifetime of service. Thank you for leading our firefighters, loving this department, and never forgetting that at the heart of a volunteer fire department are ordinary people willing to do extraordinary things for their neighbors.

And thank you to every firefighter we have spotlighted throughout this series. Each one is different. Each one brings something special. Together, they make up a department and a brotherhood that our community can be very proud of.

🚒❤️ We are proud of our firefighters, and we are proud of our Chief.

08/27/2026

FIREFIGHTER SHOUT-OUT: BOBBY THOMAS 🚒

Today’s Firefighter Shout-Out goes to Bobby Thomas!

Bobby has been a member of our department for several years, and of all our firefighters, he is probably the one who travels the farthest to respond when the call goes out. That alone says a lot about his dedication. It would be easy to say, “That’s too far,” or “Someone else will get it.” But Bobby doesn’t do that. He shows up.

One thing we can say about Bobby is that he is one of the quietest to respond. He's not going to say a lot, make a lot of noise, or draw attention to himself. He simply shows up, gets to work, and does whatever needs to be done.

And you'll notice something different about Bobby's spotlight — we don't have a picture of Bobby to post! We searched through our pictures and couldn't find one of him. But when we thought about it, we realized that actually says a lot about who Bobby is.

Bobby isn't looking for the camera. He's never trying to be in the limelight. He's just serving.

He's the guy working in the background, helping wherever he's needed and doing his part without worrying about whether anyone notices.

Bobby also has a beautiful family, and we recognize that every hour he gives to the fire department is time taken away from them. That's part of the sacrifice behind volunteer service, and we appreciate Bobby's family for sharing him with our department and our community.

Volunteer fire departments are built on people who don't have to show up—but choose to. Bobby travels farther than most, doesn't look for recognition, doesn't need the spotlight, and doesn't have to say much.

He just shows up and serves.

Bobby, thank you for the miles you travel, the time you give, and the quiet dedication you have shown our department and our community. We're proud to have Bobby Thomas as part of the Groveton Volunteer Fire Department! 🚒🔥

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08/26/2026

🔥 Firefighter Spotlight — Tevin Edmondson 🔥

Today, our Firefighter Spotlight shines on Tevin Edmondson.

Tevin has served with our fire department for several years. At one point, life took him away from our community, and he had to step away from the department. But when Tevin moved back, there was no hesitation—he got right back on the fire department and went right back to serving.

That says a lot about the heart of a true volunteer. Tevin had the choice not to come back, but serving his community was important to him, and he immediately stepped back into that role.

Tevin is also the proud father of four beautiful children, and he is an excellent dad. When he's not working or volunteering, you can often find him hunting or fishing—two things he truly loves. Even better, he has passed that love of the outdoors on to his children, and they enjoy hunting, fishing, and spending that time together as a family.

Tevin is a hard worker who shows up when he's needed and demonstrates through his actions that he cares about his community.

As we continue recognizing the fathers on our fire department, we're reminded that their service reaches far beyond the calls they answer. Their children are watching them give their time, help their neighbors, work hard, and serve without expecting anything in return.

They are leading by example and showing their children some of the very best qualities a father can demonstrate—service, responsibility, compassion, and commitment to others.

Tevin, we're proud to have you as part of our department, and we're especially proud of the example you're setting for your four children.

Thank you, Tevin Edmondson, for choosing to serve your community. ❤️🚒

08/25/2026

🔥 FIREFIGHTER SPOTLIGHT — Hayden Dial🔥

Today’s Firefighter Spotlight goes out to Hayden Dial!

Hayden is a Groveton graduate, a local small businessman, and a hardworking father raising his family right here in the community he calls home.

When we think of Hayden, we think of someone who always has his hustle on—working, working, working. But no matter how busy Hayden may be, one thing you can always count on is his willingness to give back.

His service doesn’t stop with the fire department. Anytime someone needs help or there’s a job that needs to be done, you can count on Hayden’s hands being some of the first ones there to help get the job done. That says a lot about the kind of person he is. Hayden is caring, compassionate, hardworking, and always willing to lend a hand to someone in need.

Hayden is also a proud father of four beautiful children. And if you’ve ever seen his little boy, affectionately called “Pooch,” you know he is the spitting image of his daddy. He is Hayden made over!

We look forward to watching Pooch grow up while Hayden shows him, by example, what it means to serve others and give back to your community. Maybe one day, Pooch will follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a volunteer firefighter himself.

We are proud of the fathers who serve on our department because they aren't just serving our community today—they are setting an example for the next generation.

Hayden Dial, thank you for being a dedicated father, a hardworking member of our community, and a volunteer firefighter we can count on. We appreciate you and everything you do! 🚒❤️

08/24/2026

🔥 FIREFIGHTER SPOTLIGHT: KEITH KESINGER 🔥

Today’s Firefighter Spotlight goes to Keith Kesinger, a familiar face to so many in our community.

Keith was born and raised right here in Groveton. He went to school here, graduated from Groveton, and has spent years serving the people of this community.

For years, Keith worked at the auto parts store, and if someone needed help getting back on the road, Keith was the kind of person who responded. Whether it was finding the right part, helping solve a problem, or simply lending a hand, Keith was there. That same willingness to help others has carried over into his years of service with the Groveton Volunteer Fire Department.

Keith is also a true Groveton Indian supporter and has supported our school and community throughout the years. He has a beautiful daughter who has followed that example of service and gives back to her community as well.

But there is something else we want people to know about Keith.

The writer of this spotlight knows Keith very well, and sometimes you have to know someone's whole story to truly appreciate the person standing in front of you today.

Keith has lost a leg—but Keith will tell you he still has two good feet. One of them may be man-made, but the other one isn't.

And Keith still shows up.

He still responds. He still serves. He still does the work that comes with being a volunteer firefighter.

Keith has every reason in the world to sit down and say, “I've done my part. Let somebody else go.” But that's not Keith. When the call comes and he's able to respond, Keith responds.

That's the kind of determination that earns our highest respect. It's not about what happens to you along the way. It's about what you choose to do afterward. Keith hasn't allowed what he's been through to stop him from continuing to serve the community he loves.

He is steady. He is dependable. And he is the kind of man you are proud to have standing beside you.

🚒 Keith Kesinger, we hold you in the highest regard. Thank you for continuing to show up, continuing to serve, and reminding all of us that sometimes the strongest people are the ones who simply refuse to quit.