East Sullivan County Volunteer Fire Department was founded in October of 1967 by a group of men from the Weaver Pike Ruritan Club.  These gentlemen saw a need for a fire department to help the community and its surrounding areas.  The Weaver Pike Ruritan Club was founded in 1966 with the sole purpose of establishing a fire department. The land for the fire department was donated by Hill Harris.  The first fire truck was a 1951 International pumper that was housed by the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department until the construction of the station was completed.  When the fire station opened, the station had only two apparatus bays and 10 members. With no 911 system in place, the station was staffed 24/7. When some one was not at the station, a fire phone was answered by the Raiders Grocery Store just down from the station.  Raiders Grocery Store would then call the Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chiefs then they would proceed to call the firefighters. The second fire truck was a 1959 Chevy gas truck turned in to a water tanker. EVFD also used a Dodge army power wagon as a brush truck. The fire department conducted many fundraisers to help the department continue its service.  Such as: painting houses, filling swimming pools, a sugar cane crop, odd construction jobs and road side boot stops. The ladies from the Ruritan established the Fire Department Ladies Auxillary which also assisted with fundraising activities for the departement. To assist with funding efforts, Sullivan County began giving the department annual funding.  The funding was part of a matching program in which the county matched funds raised by the department.  However, after a short time, match funding was ceased to assist in the orginization of volunteer fire departments throughout Sullivan County. The EVFD response area was wherever they were needed in the county until the start of the Fire Fighter’s Association.  After the establishment of the Fire Fighter's Association, response areas were disignated to each fire department.  Today, there are original members that remain active in the duties of the fire department.

Jim Howell & David Witcher (JD Witcher)  helped with the construction of the station but did not become active members until August of 1968.  Since joining the fire department, both men have served as Chief, Jim from 1977-1995 and JD from 1995-2001.  Jim Howell served as Fire Chief for 18 consecutive years.  After years of dedicated service  Jim Howell still remains our most active member.

We truly appreciate all they have given to us throughout their years of dedicated service. And we are thankful for their orginization of East Volunteer Fire Department which has given us the opportuniy to protect the lives and property in our community and in our surrounding fire department area. We now operate a fleet of 3 engines, 2 tankers, and a brush truck and a current fire department membership of 40 personnel.  We conduct weekly training drills every Thursday night and conduct fire department board and business meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month.  If you are interested in becoming a member, stop by the station on these days after 7:00 pm to pick up an application.