KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Fire Department gathered with members of the Knoxville community on Wednesday to honor people who both died in the line of duty and who died after retiring from serving as a firefighter.
They gathered for a memorial service that started at 11 a.m. on Oct. 11, in Mary Costa Plaza. A bell was rung for each of the fallen firefighters, including 14 who died this past year and 24 who have died in the line of duty since 1875.
"There are revered traditions that get passed down from one generation of firefighters to the next, and with it comes a moral code that the expectations and high standards being met and carried forward, in the Knoxville fire station," said Mayor Indya Kincannon, who attended the memorial.
October is also National Fire Prevention Month, with the theme of "Cooking Safety Starts with You." A spokesperson with KFD said the leading cause of fire in Knoxville and across the country is cooking fires.
