Calling all young artists! There's still time to enter the Franklin Fire Department's Fire Helmet Shield Design Contest! Students in grades K–8 are invited to design a new fire helmet shield for Sparky the Fire Dog, inspired by the 2026 Fire Prevention Week theme, “Charge Into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower!” One grand prize winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card, and nine additional winners will each receive a $50 Visa gift card! Deadline: Sunday, October 25! Contest details and entry form: franklintn.gov/FFDcontest Prizes generously provided by Atmos Energy.

Flashback Friday – Remember Baby William? Back in 2024, the Franklin Fire Department helped bring William into the world! Shortly thereafter, his parents brought him to Fire Station 2 for a special reunion with the firefighters who helped deliver him. Fast forward two years… we were thrilled to see William and his mom, Kim, again this week at Story Time with the Franklin Fire Department at the Williamson County Public Library! Two-year-old William is still as adorable as ever! Pictured: 2024 – Lieutenant-Paramedic Joe Burwell and Lieutenant Jeff Boggs with baby William. 2026 – Engineer-Paramedic Matt Anderson with William and his mom, Kim.

Congratulations to the 11 graduates of the Franklin Fire Department’s 18th Citizens’ Fire Academy! Over eight weeks, participants got a firsthand look at what it takes to be a firefighter through hands-on training in vehicle extrication, search and rescue, hose and aerial operations, live firefighting, and emergency medical response, including a special visit from LifeFlight! This annual free program gives those who live or work in Franklin a behind-the-scenes look at fire department operations and the challenges firefighters face every day. A special thank you to Captain Jonathan Gill, who coordinated the academy, and all the Franklin Fire Department personnel who helped make this year's program a success! Learn more at franklintn.gov/CFA

A big thank-you to the 200+ people who joined the Franklin Fire Department for Story Time at the Williamson County Public Library today! There's another chance to join the fun this Thursday, October 15! Franklin Firefighters will once again be the special guest readers for Story Time, followed by a fire truck tour and firefighting gear demonstration. Two Story Time sessions: 9:30 and 10:30 AM Location: Williamson County Public Library, 1314 Columbia Avenue, Franklin (Meeting Room) All ages welcome. No registration required. Hope to see you there!

Charge large items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside when possible. Do not block exits when charging. These batteries store more energy, and fires can grow quickly if they fail. Learn more: franklintn.gov/FirePreventio…

Unplug your device when it is fully charged. Leaving it plugged in longer than needed can increase heat and stress on the battery. Learn more: franklintn.gov/FirePreventio…

A damaged battery can overheat and start a fire. Stop using your device right away if the battery smells strange, is warm to the touch, makes popping noises, changes in shape or color, or if you see smoke. If it is safe, move the device away from anything that can catch fire. Learn more: franklintn.gov/FirePreventio…

Beds, couches, and pillows can trap heat and block airflow, which can cause a battery to overheat. Charge on a hard, flat surface like a table, desk, or floor. Learn more: franklintn.gov/FirePreventio…

Not all chargers are created equal. Using the wrong charger can damage your device or battery and increase the risk of fire. Use the charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. Learn more: franklintn.gov/FirePreventio…

Are you charging your devices safely? For Fire Prevention Week, FFD Deputy Fire Marshal and Fire Investigator Jerry Thomas shares simple steps you can take to help prevent fires involving lithium-ion batteries. Using the right charger, charging devices on a hard, flat surface, and knowing the warning signs of a damaged battery can help reduce the risk of fire. Jerry also explains why it’s important to check whether products in your home have been recalled because of fire or explosion hazards. Check your products at franklintn.gov/Recalls. For more safe-charging tips and resources, visit franklintn.gov/FirePreventio…. “Charge Into Fire Safety. Safe Charging is a Super Power!”

Calling all young artists in grades K–8! Sparky the Fire Dog needs a new fire helmet shield, and your design could be the one he wears! In honor of Fire Prevention Week, the Franklin Fire Department is asking students to create a helmet shield inspired by this year’s theme: “Charge Into Fire Safety. Safe Charging is a Super Power!” The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card, and their design will be made into a custom helmet shield for Sparky. Nine First Place Winners, one from each grade level, K–8, will each receive a $50 Visa gift card. Prizes are courtesy of Atmos Energy. Entries are due Friday, October 30. Contest guidelines, entry form and helmet shield template: franklintn.gov/FFDcontest Show us your creativity and help give Sparky a brand-new look!

At last night’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, Mayor Dr. Ken Moore officially proclaimed October 4–10, 2026, as Fire Prevention Week in Franklin. This year’s theme, “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” focuses on simple steps you can take to reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. Keep these safe-charging tips in mind: • Use the charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. Cheap charger? Don’t chance it. • Charge devices on a hard, flat surface - not on beds, couches or under pillows. • Stop using a device if it becomes unusually hot, swells, smokes or produces a strange odor. • Unplug devices when charging is complete. • Take extra care with larger batteries, including those in e-bikes, scooters and power tools. NEW: Check products recalled because of fire and explosion hazards at franklintn.gov/Recalls. Learn more about Fire Prevention Week at franklintn.gov/FirePreventio…. Photo: Franklin Fire Chief Glenn Johnson, Fire Marshal Andy King, Fire & Life Safety Educator Jamie Melton, and Mayor Dr. Ken Moore

It’s Rail Safety Week – a reminder that taking a chance at a railroad crossing is never worth the risk. Franklin Fire and @FranklinTNPD have responded to two vehicle-train collisions at local railroad crossings in recent weeks: • Aug. 20 – Lewisburg Pike near Stewart Street • Sept. 2 – Mallory Station Road near General George Patton Drive Fortunately, neither collision resulted in serious injuries. The Aug. 20 collision involved a distracted driver at a crossing where the warning lights were activated. In the Sept. 2 collision, a driver attempted to cross the tracks ahead of an approaching train with children in the vehicle. Both are important reminders: Pay attention every time you approach railroad tracks. Flashing red lights mean STOP. NEVER try to beat a train through a crossing. Always obey railroad warning lights and never stop on the tracks. A few seconds are never worth the risk. See tracks? Think train. #STOPTrackTragedies

Franklin Firefighters are gearing up for the 19th Annual Toy & Clothing Drive by partnering with the Macy’s CoolSprings Galleria Round Up campaign! Customers may round up their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar (up to $.99) now through October 15. Since 2008, the Franklin Firefighters’ Toy & Clothing Drive has provided coats, clothing, shoes, and toys to hundreds of children each year. This is all made possible by the incredible generosity of our community, whose support year after year helps make the holidays brighter for local children and families.

Children in grades K–8 are invited to design a new fire helmet shield for a very special member of the Franklin Fire Department – Sparky the Fire Dog! In honor of Fire Prevention Week, the Franklin Fire Department is holding a contest to create a new helmet shield for Sparky that best illustrates this year’s theme: “Charge Into Fire Safety. Safe Charging is a Super Power.” The campaign focuses on everyday charging habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires and keep homes and communities safer. Young artists and their families are encouraged to keep these safe-charging tips in mind: * Use the right charger. Use the cord and charger that came with your device or one approved by the manufacturer. Using the wrong charger can damage the battery and increase the risk of fire. * Charge on a hard, flat surface. Do not charge devices on beds, couches, or under pillows. Devices and chargers produce heat during normal charging, and soft surfaces can trap heat and block airflow, causing the battery to overheat. * Know the warning signs. Stop using your device if it feels very hot, starts to swell, is smoking, or has a strange smell. These are warning signs that the battery may be damaged or failing. * Unplug when fully charged. Do not leave your device plugged in longer than needed. Leaving a device plugged in too long can increase heat and stress on the battery. * Charge larger items like e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside and away from exits. These batteries are larger and store more energy. If they fail, fires can grow quickly and spread. * Check for recalled products: Visit franklintn.gov/Recalls to find products recalled due to fire and explosion hazards. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card, and their winning design will be made into a custom fire helmet shield for the helmet worn by Sparky the Fire Dog, the department’s mascot. Sparky and his new helmet will be displayed at Franklin Fire Station 8 in Westhaven throughout the year. Additionally, nine First Place Winners – one from each grade level, K–8 – will each receive a $50 Visa gift card. Prizes are courtesy of Atmos Energy. Entries will be accepted through Friday, October 30, 2026. Complete contest guidelines, the entry form and the helmet shield template are available at franklintn.gov/FFDcontest.

ROSS FIRE DEPLOYMENT – MISSION COMPLETE Welcome home! Four Franklin Fire Department firefighters returned home safely this morning after completing a 16-day deployment to North Texas, where they assisted with the response to the Ross Fire in Palo Pinto and Jack counties. Lt. Anthony Sedlak, Engineer James Hinkle, Engineer-Paramedic Brad Kamau, and Firefighter Andrew Bowden deployed from Franklin on August 30 with Engine 1 and the department’s Special Operations trailer as part of a multi-agency Tennessee response. Seven Tennessee agencies participated in the deployment: Franklin Fire Department, Brentwood Fire & Rescue, Knoxville Fire Department, Columbia Fire & Rescue, Madison County Fire Department, Maury County Office of Emergency Management, and Murfreesboro Fire Rescue. Hinkle served as Strike Team Leader for the Tennessee deployment, coordinating assignments based on direction from incident command. In recognition of his leadership and the job he did during the deployment, members of the strike team presented him with a Texas state flag signed by everyone on the team. The Franklin crew was assigned to a structural protection group responsible for protecting homes and other structures if wildfire threatened populated areas. They also patrolled areas already affected by the Ross Fire, locating and extinguishing spot fires and hot spots that had the potential to reignite and spread. During the deployment, the Tennessee strike team was temporarily reassigned to the nearby Bug Fire, where Franklin firefighters were positioned for structural protection near a mobile home community as the wildfire advanced toward the area. Firefighters and aircraft were able to stop the fire’s forward progress before it reached the homes. The crew worked 12-hour operational periods each day and gained valuable experience in large-scale wildfire response, including wildland firefighting operations, structural protection, air-to-ground coordination, and working within a multi-agency incident command structure. We are extremely proud of Lt. Sedlak, Engineer Hinkle, Engineer-Paramedic Kamau, and Firefighter Bowden for answering the call and representing FFD, the City of Franklin, and the State of Tennessee so well. Welcome home, and job well done!