Smyrna fireman: “Most firefighters will tell you it’s a calling''

Editor’s note: The Smyrna Public Safety Foundation's Auction for Heroes Gala is approaching in less than a month. This Sept. 10 event at Brawner Hall promises to be a night of food and fun with live music from Wesley Cook and Kingsized. Join Honorary Chairman, Smyrna Mayor, A. Max Bacon, and the residents and businesses of Smyrna in honoring and supporting our city's public safety "heroes" at this gala fundraising event. For more information on these events see here.

Tommy Bates had a friend in the Army National Guard who was a firefighter, and this friend told Bates he had “the right disposition for the job.”

What is the “right disposition?”  

Bates explained: “Most firefighters will tell you it’s a calling.”  Firefighters, he believes, have a certain “willingness to help” combined with elements of the “adrenaline junky,” a need to be “where the action is, in the middle of it all.” 

Bates has been “in the middle of it” for 11 years now, all of it with the as a firefighter, fire instructor, and paramedic. Firefighters have to be willing and able to “push yourself as hard as you can,” said Bates.

One such occasion involved an apartment complex on fire. “It was a bad fire,” he recalled, “and the building was not stable.” The team saw a panicked, anxious dog on the balcony of one of the apartments involved in the fire. “But we had to stabilize the situation first,” he said, “before we could address the threat to the dog.” 

When he was able to approach the dog, he realized the team didn’t have the equipment necessary to rescue the dog safely. The dog catcher was called to bring that equipment. While waiting, Bates kept the dog calm and the smoke away from it. When the proper equipment arrived, Bates corralled the animal and led it to safety. Firefighters save more than human lives from harm. 

Bates appreciates the community’s efforts in putting on the Smyrna Auction for Heroes Gala fundraiser for Smyrna’s public safety employees.

“Smyrna police officers and firefighters love to show our respect and dedication to the citizens of Smyrna,” he said, “and here is another way to show it.” That respect and dedication surely goes both ways as residents and businesses representatives prepare to gather on Sept. 11 to honor, support, and celebrate our own community’s “heroes,” one of them being Tommy Bates.

The funds generated for the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation from the gala will “assist fellow public safety workers in their time of need,” he explained. He’s not talking about himself. Recently, he’s seen a number of public safety employees with medical and financial issues, and “this money will help them a great deal.” 

Support our "heroes" by supporting the Smyrna Auction for Heroes Gala. If you haven’t already purchased your tickets, you can do so at www.SmyrnaHeroesGala.com.