From TriCities.com: A fire tanker truck crash in
On her way back from a call last month, an 18-year-old South Side Volunteer Fire Department firefighter lost control, overcorrected and crashed a 28,000-pound tanker. The crash has prompted Unicoi County to question who is and who is not allowed to drive an emergency vehicle.

In Tennessee, firefighters are exempt from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses. The only state regulations required are that a firefighter takes part in at least two hours of annual training and passes a comprehensive examination.

In short, it’s up to each individual fire department to set its own policies. However, not all departments are willing to take a risk by putting a teenager in the driver’s seat.

The Fall Branch Volunteer Fire Department says teens can drive, but only in non-emergencies. Read the entire article here.