This article was originally published on TimesFreePress.com.
Jasper Highlands, the high-end mountain-top development in Jasper, Tenn., now has its own volunteer fire department, complete with three trucks.
Developers were previously rebuffed when they sought fire protection from neighboring Foster Falls, so they bought their own trucks.
In an announcement of the fire department’s formation on Thursday, John “Thunder” Thornton, owner and developer of the Jasper Highlands and CEO of Thunder Enterprises, said the occasion marked the completion of an ultimate goal for the master-planned community, to have its own fire department.
The Jasper Highlands volunteer fire department is hosting a naming competition for its three new trucks. Elementary school students from Marion, Grundy and Sequatchie counties are asked to submit fire truck name ideas at www.livejasper.com/vote.
The first-place winner gets $10,000 for his or her school. Second place will get $7,500 and third place will get $2,500.
Jasper Highlands is taking name submissions, and the public will be asked to vote on the best three names starting Thursday, March 24. Voting will close at the end of the day on Tuesday, March 29.
Winners will be announced March 30th and the winning schools will be invited to a picnic at Pat’s Summit on Saturday April 2nd where the checks will be presented.