Brentwood Fire & Security (subscription service) circa 1960 on Franklin Road

Updated at 12 p.m. to correct information on Jody Baltz. BHP regrets the error.
Professional firefighters' numbers, stature grow
By KERRI BARTLETT
For Brentwood Home Page
As the Brentwood Fire and Rescue Department reaches its quarter-century mark, it is celebrating its growth from a “subscription-based,” one-station facility to the flourishing professional operation with four fully equipped stations it is today.

A 1984 photo of Barbara Burke Baltz and her husband, Chief Louis Baltz Jr.

Captain Mark Duffield remembers when residents paid an annual fee to receive only fire protection and no other emergency services. Duffield was only 19 when he began his career. He started as an engineer at the small, single Pewitt Drive station opened and owned by the Burke family.  That job set the stage for his 30-year career in fire protection serving the Brentwood community.

 “Back then Brentwood was a lot smaller with not even a third of the office buildings that are present now, and Maryland Farms was still a farm,” Duffield said. “We only had two or three pieces of equipment, and we only answered fire calls. It was a small station, but there was a real family atmosphere.”

When Duffield left for college to become a computer engineer, he quickly became dissatisfied with the 9 to 5 desk work. So when Brentwood formed its first fully equipped fire department in 1986, he returned to pursue a more exciting career. He has been serving the city and its residents ever since.

 “I never know what my day is going to be like, what situation will unfold. I like helping people through an emergency that is happening to them on any given day,” he said. “We have been able to save a few people from a heart attack, and nothing can take that feeling away of being able to make a difference in someone’s life.”

Chief Jack E. Burke

Jody Baltz, today the city administrator of Tullahoma, Tenn., is his family’s historian and shared the story of Brentwood Fire Department, Inc.

His grandfather, Jack E. Burke (1904-1983) established and owned the Brentwood Fire Department from 1961 to 1986 and served as its chief, Baltz said. His father, the late Louis Baltz Jr. followed as chief. His mother, Barbara Burke Baltz is retired and lives in College Grove.

“The BFD Inc. relocated [from outside the city limits] to Brentwood at the invitation of the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce in 1961. The Chamber saw that the area was rapidly growing, and they needed a full-time fire department to serve the community," Jody Baltz said.

“Chief Burke and the BFD, Inc. played an important role in bridging a service gap between having no fire protection service until the creation of the Brentwood Municipal Fire Department in 1986.”

Since 1986, the department now known as Brentwood Fire & Rescue has grown from a single station department with 26 members serving approximately 15,000 residents into a 62-member organization serving a population of more than 37,000. Today, four stations are strategically located to make sure response is quick and efficient.

Longtime Fire Chief Kenny Lane, who retired earlier this year, left a legacy of progressive growth and excellent leadership. “He was very dedicated and always wanted to do what was best for the department to make it the best that it could be,” Joy Vaughan, his administrative assistant of 16 years, shared.

Original Chief Dean Filer (lower left with glasses) and the four original captains.  Next to Chief Filer is former Fire Chief Kenny Lane.

City Manager Mike Walker noted that Lane “brought the station through many changes such as building two new fire stations and a training center. He did a great job during his time as chief. ”

Brian Goss stepped into the position of chief in July after serving as assistant chief for three years. “I appreciated that he was always open to new ideas. I don’t think I ever heard him say the word ‘No’ during the time that I worked under him,” Goss said.

Today the department’s financial stability and emphasis on funding professional development, excellent services and community programs draws candidates from across the station, and even the nation. Every Brentwood firefighter is EMS trained and participates in ongoing and rigorous fire and medical emergency training.

Goss moved to Brentwood from his home state of Michigan, where he served Grand Rapid’s fire department for 20 years. As a member of the Center for Public Safety and Excellence (CPSE) and the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), he knew the Brentwood department by reputation long before he came to work there.

“The Brentwood Fire and Rescue is one of the finest departments that I have been involved with and that is a subjective view,” Goss said, adding that he is proud to be working with such dedicated personnel.

Coming Wednesday: Meet our new chief, Brian Goss