Former Cornersville Chief Matt Fox and his crew stepped down, citing administrative strain, burnout and funding challenges

CORNERSVILLE, Tenn. — The entire Cornersville Volunteer Fire Department has resigned, according to a letter from former Fire Chief Matt Fox.

In a Nov. 6 notice, Fox announced his immediate departure and said all department members chose to step down with him, WTVF reported.

“I am tired of the constant struggle to provide the citizens of the Town of Cornersville with any form of adequate fire protection,” Fox wrote. “Cornersville, being my current hometown and where I grew up, this pains me more than you can imagine, but I simply cannot do it any longer. The amount of money I have spent out of my own pocket, the amount of time at my home doing administrative duties because we do not have an office space, and the amount of records I have stored at my home because of the lack of a secured space have taken a toll on myself and my family to the point where it is best we all step away.”

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Fox said persistent hurdles since he took over in August 2019, including administrative burdens, limited resources and lack of support, led to the move. He pledged to return all equipment, uniforms, and records to City Hall by next week. He also said he will notify the State of Tennessee and the Fire Training Academy of the leadership change.

The South Marshall Volunteer Fire Department said it remains a separate agency and will continue operating for the foreseeable future. County Commissioner Craig Blackwell characterized the resignations as a wake-up call, noting that unpaid volunteer responders need greater support.

What is your view? Is a mass resignation the best way to get the attention of officials and citizens to support the fire service?

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