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Chattanooga could soon hire first responders living outside Tennessee under new law

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The early morning sun glistens on equipment at the Fire Station #1 on Main Street in 2022. The Chattanooga Fire Department may soon be able to hire firefighters from outside Tennessee after a law passed this session.
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The early morning sun glistens on equipment at the Fire Station #1 on Main Street in 2022. The Chattanooga Fire Department may soon be able to hire firefighters from outside Tennessee after a law passed this session. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / The early morning sun glistens on equipment at the Fire Station #1 on Main Street in 2022. The Chattanooga Fire Department may soon be able to hire firefighters from outside Tennessee after a law passed this session.

By Ellen Gerst 5 min read


Chattanooga may soon be able to hire first responders who live outside Tennessee’s borders, thanks to a bill signed last week by Gov. Bill Lee.

The measure should make it easier for the city to fill vacancies in its Police and Fire departments, officials said.

(READ MORE: Chattanooga police adding downtown patrols after shooting outside Champy’s)

Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga, said he sponsored the bill after Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly’s office raised the issue.