A Roane County Fire Department Has To Make Improvements

The Newton Volunteer Fire Department has to get up to speed with state guidelines or face closure. The State Fire Marshal’s office is giving Newton firefighters six months to get 16 new sets of gear and update fire trucks. If that’s not accomplished within 180 days the fire department will have to close, which would cause the fire insurance of homeowners in that area of Roane County to increase. Former fire chief, Sean Mccarty, was charged earlielr this year with embezzling $130,000 from the department and his trial date is pending.