CHIEF JERRY HARNISH

KNOX COUNTY, TN

Jerry Harnish entered the fire service as a volunteer while completing his undergraduate degree at Emory & Henry College in Virginia.  During that time, he also completed training and certified as an EMT.  After graduation in 1980, he joined Rural Metro full-time in its Knox County operation.

Harnish promoted to captain in 1987, and in that capacity managed training programs, supervised the communications center, organized the department’s hazardous materials team, and substituted for the district chiefs.  In 1989, he promoted to district chief, supervising one shift on the county’s west end before transferring to Arizona for a four-month temporary assignment to Rural Metro’s operations in Arizona.  The next year, he returned to Tennessee to command the newly formed District 3 until 1997 when he was again assigned to direct training and administration.

He graduated from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program in 1998 and was assigned to command Division 1, an amalgamation of separate fire districts in Knox County.  He was formally promoted to Division Chief in 2002 and transferred to Division 2 in the county’s north and east end in 2004.

Harnish promoted to Fire Chief for Knox County in 2007 and has served there since.  He lives in Knoxville with his wife of thirty years, Dr. Marsha Snapp, a veterinarian and owner of an inner-city  clinic.