City of Pigeon Forge Fire Department

09/03/2026

Today's Throwback Thursday focuses on the career path of one of our newly promoted Driver/Operators and Field Training Officers, Charles "Charlie" Russell.

Charlie graduated from Pigeon Forge High School in 2010. In the same year he joined Wears Valley Volunteer Fire Department, following in the footsteps of his older brother. It would be 10 years, however, before Charlie would make the leap to full-time career firefighter. During that decade Charlie worked at Dolly Parton's Stampede as a fire breather and riding ostriches and horses, as well as LumberJack Feud as a stagehand and dog and horse trainer.

In 2020, Charlie decided that it was time to make helping his community a full-time job and he joined Pigeon Forge Fire Department. In 2026, Charlie was promoted to Tower Driver/Operator and Field Training Officer. While he loves many aspects of the job, he says that getting to mentor the younger generation is one of the things he enjoys most.

Charlie is married, and he and his wife enjoy taking care of their horses, dogs, and donkey. When he's not at work, he enjoys exercising, riding horses, rock climbing, and hiking.

On a side note, his 35th birthday is tomorrow! (September 4th- Happy Birthday, Charlie!)

09/02/2026

🚨 First Responder Softball is back at Wear Farm Park TONIGHT!

Come out and join us for another Wednesday night of friendly competition as our local first responders trade in their uniforms for jerseys and take the field!

Tonight’s matchups:
🥎 6 PM | Field 5: PFPD vs. SFD
🥎 6 PM | Field 3: SCSO vs. PFFD
🥎 7:30 PM | Field 5: GPD vs. SCFR

Games are FREE and open to the public, so grab the family, pick a team to cheer for and join us for a fun night of friendly competition! 👏

📍Wear Farm City Park in Pigeon Forge

09/01/2026

Training for the moments that matter most.

Pigeon Forge firefighters recently trained on Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) procedures, practicing the critical skills used to locate, assess and safely remove a downed or incapacitated firefighter from a hazardous structure.

Thankfully, these types of rescues are rare- but when every second counts, there’s no room for hesitation. Repeated hands-on training helps our crews build the skills, communication and teamwork needed to respond quickly and effectively in a high-stress emergency.

It’s all part of staying prepared to protect our community, and one another.

08/25/2026

City of Pigeon Forge Mourns the Loss of Dolly Parton

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. August 25, 2026- The City of Pigeon Forge joins people across Tennessee, the nation and the world in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton, a beloved daughter of the Great Smoky Mountains and a cherished member of the Pigeon Forge community.

Dolly was far more than a world-renowned singer, songwriter, actress, entertainer and philanthropist. To the people of Pigeon Forge, she was one of our own.

For decades, Dolly's name and heart have been woven into the story of Pigeon Forge. Through Dollywood, the many businesses and attractions she helped bring to the community, and the countless ways she invested in the people of East Tennessee, Dolly helped shape Pigeon Forge into the community it is today.

But perhaps her greatest legacy is not measured in the success she achieved. It is measured in the lives she touched.

Dolly never forgot where she came from. Despite achieving worldwide fame, she remained deeply connected to her Tennessee roots and consistently used her success to give back. Her generosity, her commitment to children and literacy, her support of families and communities, and her genuine love for the people of this region have left an impact that will continue for generations.

“Today, Pigeon Forge has lost more than an icon. We have lost one of our own,” said City Manager David Wear, “Dolly loved these mountains, she loved this community, and she never forgot where she came from. Her generosity, her spirit and her belief in the people of East Tennessee have made an immeasurable difference. We are grateful for everything she gave to Pigeon Forge and to the world."

The City of Pigeon Forge extends its deepest condolences to Dolly's family, friends, loved ones, colleagues, fans and the many people whose lives she touched.

Her music will continue to be heard. Her stories will continue to be told. Her generosity will continue through the many lives she changed.

The City of Pigeon Forge is grateful for the life, love and legacy of Dolly Parton.

08/25/2026

Our department will be holding a Community CPR class at 6pm on Tuesday, September 1st. This will be a Heartsaver CPR/AED/First Aid class. The class is free of charge, but there is a $20 fee for the 2-year certification from the American Heart Association. The fee can be paid in cash or by check made out to Walters State Community College. You do NOT have to purchase the certification to attend the class. Reach out to Emily at [email protected] to RSVP or with questions.

08/24/2026

Friday night we held our department Luau. An opportunity for our firefighters and their families to have a time of fellowship with one another away from the job. This event would not have been possible without the support of several agencies. A huge thank you to the City of Pigeon Forge Parks and Recreation for hosting us at the outdoor pool and the lifeguards that gave up their Friday night to help us with a smile on their faces. Also, we are so grateful to both Sevierville Fire Department and Sevier County Fire and Rescue for providing coverage so our on-duty firefighters could participate. We are very appreciative to be surrounded by so many supportive agencies.

08/21/2026

This week our Fire Inspections Division attended training at the Tennessee Chapter of International Association of Arson Investigators annual training conference. This is a great opportunity for our fire inspectors to sharpen their investigative skills as well as learn the newest techniques in the industry.

08/20/2026

In today's Throwback Thursday, we share pictures of some of our training fires throughout the years. Live fire training is critical in the fire service because it builds mental and physical confidence under stress and teaches firefighters how to read critical heat, smoke, and fire behavior cues safely before facing unpredictable real world emergencies.

08/19/2026

08/18/2026

Thank You to the Pigeon Forge Public Library for providing such great programs to the children of Pigeon Forge. We appreciate you always including us.