Discover the compelling journey of Adam Momberger, the Administrative District Chief of the Johnson City Fire Department, as he reveals what drew him from Ohio to the vibrant community of Johnson City. Learn about the department's unwavering commitment to their core values—Honesty, Empathy, Loyalty, and Professionalism—through the HELP acronym, setting the tone for their mission as an all-hazards provider. Adam also shares the thrill of firefighting, from the physical challenges to the strategic partnership with the city's water department, which has helped secure an impressive ISO 1 rating, potentially benefiting local homeowners with lower insurance premiums.
In an episode packed with insights, Adam takes us behind the scenes of the Johnson City Fire Department's rigorous training regimen. With over 200 hours of annual training in critical areas like EMS, technical rescue, and hazmat response, the department is always ready for the next call. Adam highlights how data analytics play a crucial role in anticipating emergencies, while the Emergency Operations Center stands as a vital component during flooding events. Plus, get a handle on city policies around leaf and brush burning, emphasizing the importance of utilizing city services to keep the community safe.
We round out our discussion with essential home safety tips tailored for families with children. From smoke and CO2 detector usage to securing household items, Adam provides practical advice to enhance home safety. The conversation broadens to the need for sprinkler systems in businesses and the collaborative efforts that bolster firefighting efficiency. Aspiring firefighters won't want to miss Adam's advice on the importance of early maturity and education to succeed in this noble profession. Celebrate the dedication of the Johnson City Fire Department and gain valuable insights into safeguarding your home and community.
To help you to navigate the home buying and mortgage process, Jonathan & Steve are currently licensed in Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia, contact us today at 423-491-5405 or visit www.jonathanandsteve.com.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:22):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee.
And on the way we'll havediscussions about mortgages and
we'll interview people in thereal estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
(00:42):
And now your host, christineReed.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Well, welcome back everybody to another podcast
with Benchmark Happenings, andso we always have a star of the
show.
So I'll have to tell you thereason we have this star today
is because I actually enrolledand participated in a class of
Johnson City 101.
And it was a class to learnabout all the great things about
(01:07):
Johnson City all themunicipalities, our fire
department, our policedepartment, and so today we have
the Johnson City FireDepartment Administrative
District Chief, adam Momberger.
So, adam, thank you for beinghere today.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Absolutely Well.
It's a privilege and we doappreciate your time.
I know you're a busy guy withlots to do.
So we talk about the JohnsonCity Fire Department, the
mission and core values.
The Johnson City FireDepartment's mission is to be
the all-hazards provider to thecitizens and visitors through
(01:48):
prevention, preparedness andemergency response.
The core values will help theJohnson City Fire Department to
establish their guidingphilosophy.
So I love that and I love theacronym HELP.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, it's a good memory tool for us and it really
embodies what we do and what wethink our character is.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Absolutely, and I'm just going to cover that.
So HELP, honesty, truthful inall we do, e for empathy,
compassion for all in need,loyalty devoted to serving the
community, professionalismthrough valued service.
Yeah, so, adam, firefightersare just sort of near and dear
(02:33):
to our hearts here at Benchmark,and my husband, Steve, his dad,
is a retired firefighter, so Iknow that the job just requires
it's a heart of service that youhave, and that every
firefighter out there.
So you care about people.
And so, adam, are you originalto Johnson City or did you move
(02:57):
from a different area?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
I originally lived in Ohio and I moved here
approximately 2004.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Okay, so what brought you to Johnson City?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
It was several facets of the area.
You know the beautiful climate,escaping the taxes.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
No state tax in Tennessee right.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, a diversified economy a stable economy.
That isn't just wrapped up inone industry, like much of the
Midwest.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Absolutely so.
You've settled here and this isyour home, so why did you
become a firefighter?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I believe in the value of civil service.
I've always liked the idea ofhelping leave the world a better
place than what you came intoit with and the excitement of it
.
I think all firefighters wantthat excitement.
It's a little different thanthe day-to-day for a lot of
other occupations.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, and so really the physical aspect of being a
firefighter it's pretty intense.
Not that you're out there doinga lot of things like that every
day, but when those timeshappen it calls for a lot of
resiliency and a lot of strength.
So what type of physicaldemands do you put your team
(04:23):
through as firefighters just tobe ready for those times that
when they have to respond?
Speaker 3 (04:31):
So we train regularly , daily, but we try to do a
performance evaluation ofeverybody.
We call it an air consumptiondrill.
So every year you've seen themwear what we call an SCBA, which
is the backpack they've got onthat's full of air.
Well it's a finite resource.
The amount of air is finite.
So they need to make it last aslong as possible so they can be
(04:53):
as effective as possible.
So every October, november.
So we're getting ready to do itall of our personnel will put on
all their gear and they conductthis obstacle course, and it's
not how fast they can do it,it's how many times they can do
it on a single bottle.
So they're making their airlast long.
(05:15):
They're learning to do that,they're learning to manage their
breathing and it's a good tool.
And we track it year to year sowe can see are they improving,
are they?
as we get older, there's goingto be a little declination, but
it's a good tool for us that'sawesome and when we did our tour
with the fire department it wasabsolutely fascinating.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
I was so impressed with the amount of time that
they you have to put on thatuniform when you have to go to a
fire.
It was the pants and the bootsand the hat and the respirator.
What's the time frame on that?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
So we call all of that turnout gear.
That's kind of our ensemble.
And we try to be out of thestation in a minute 20.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Wow, that's amazing.
So we all know the importanceof.
I'm going to kind of track onto insurance, right, but some
people may not know that JohnsonCity Fire Department could play
a role in lowering homeownerpremiums.
So, adam, how is that possible?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So there is this evaluation tool that it's called
ISO and it's looking at thethree things that would affect a
fire.
So we have an evaluation of thefire department, which makes up
50% of it.
We have an evaluation of thewater department, which makes up
the 40%, and then 10% for thecommunication system or dispatch
(06:38):
.
So it takes all three of thoseand it collaborates or
configures a score, almost likea grade for a test.
Okay, or anything over 90 isconsidered ISO 1, which is the
best, and we're fortunate to bean ISO 1.
A lot of the credit goes to thecity's water department, which
(07:00):
is unbelievable.
We always hear they can'tbelieve that our water
department is as good as it is.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
It is that's awesome, so let me ask you this it is
that's awesome, so let me askyou this so, with having that
ISO rating of one, do othercities have that or do they kind
of struggle to get there?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
It is a struggle for a lot of other cities.
It's not that we're the onlyones, but there's another body,
the accreditation, just like auniversity would have their
accreditation, and there'sactually only three in the state
that are ISO 1 accredited andwe're one of the three.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Oh, my goodness, I hope everybody heard that.
So Johnson City, tennessee isone of three that has that ISO
rating of 1.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
So that's awesome ISO and accredited ISO 1 and
accredited and accredited.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
That is awesome.
So, wow, no ISO 1, andaccredited and accredited.
That is awesome.
So, wow, no wonder everybodywants to move here and be in
Johnson City, right?
So tell us about the makeup ofthe Johnson City Fire Department
, Adam.
How many firefighters do youhave?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
So we have 137 members of the fire department.
You'll find them in variousroles.
Some are in administrativeroles, like I am now, and
support staff, and then we havethe miracle workers out there on
the streets that are getting itdone every day.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Okay, and then.
So how many fire stations do wehave total?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Nine.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Nine Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
With hopes for more.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Hopes for more.
That's right, and so how manyfirefighters are at each station
?
So how many firefighters are ateach station?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Each station is going to vary a little based on the
apparatus there.
So if it's just an engine, it'sgoing to have three.
If they have an engine and aladder truck, they're going to
have five or six.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Okay, yeah, and you mentioned those ladder trucks.
So when we did our tour we hadthe opportunity to climb the
ladder truck, did you like that?
Yes, I did.
It was a little intimidating, Iwill have to say, but I'll be
honest with you.
He didn't raise it very high,okay, and that was fine with me.
So I did climb to the top, butI slowly descended down as long
(09:04):
as you don't look down, you'llbe all right.
Yeah, that was awesome, but froma fire department perspective,
what are some tips that youwould give people buying or
building a home in Johnson city?
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Uh well, it's a cliche, but it's very true.
The smoke detector save livesand making sure there's
batteries in there.
Um every time the clock changes, time changes that change the
batteries.
Or, as we tell the kids everyHalloween and Easter, I need to
change it.
Talk to mom and dad.
If your house has gas, you needto have CO detectors because
(09:39):
that is a silent killer and needto make sure we have that on
all floors.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Okay, so if we have like a propane tank that we use
for like at our house, like ourfireplaces and appliances, would
we still need a CO2 detector?
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, it's a good idea to have one.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Okay, all right.
Honey, you heard that we need aCO2 detector.
I'm all about that.
I like safety.
So change your batteries andyour smoke detectors twice a
year, with the time change.
I think that's really easy.
I like that.
So that's something good toknow.
So in Johnson City, what's themost common cause of a house
(10:19):
fire?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Cooking fires.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Johnson City also has kind of a younger demographic,
as we know, and especially withthe college those life skills
haven't been fully fine tunedyet.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Okay, so if you have, if I'm cooking something on my
stove and there happens to be afire, maybe I had some grease
and it caught on fire what do wedo?
How do we handle that?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Adam, first thing you need to do is call the fire
department.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
You could put a lid over it.
Do not throw water on itbecause it's just going to
disturb it.
From a real estate standpoint,they make these what they're
called stovetop, over-the-stoveextinguishers.
You just put them right underthe range, there under the hood,
and if they detect heat they'lldisperse the powder onto it and
(11:16):
it'll put it out and stop it.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Wow, that is cool.
Where can you get those?
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Lowe's Home Depot.
Any hardware store is going tocarry them.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Okay, now we do have fire extinguishers in our house
under the kitchen sink and stuffin a couple of places, but I'd
never heard of that.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
They're fairly new this decade.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Okay, well, that's great to know.
So when people think of theJohnson City Fire Department,
they typically think of men andwomen who put out fires, but
your work encompasses a wholelot more than that.
So what else do you do besidesfire suppression?
Speaker 3 (11:52):
So anytime you have a med call, the fire department's
going to be there, because allof our personnel are trained to
EMT level or above.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Hazardous materials calls so those chemicals that
they're bringing across theinterstate.
We're going to be the ones thatgo Technical rescue.
So if you get stuck on BuffaloMountain or a sprained ankle out
there, we'll be the ones thatcome along with our friends at
EMS.
If they don't know who to call,they call the fire department.
So we'll be there.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
That's our motto We'll be there, and if your
cat's up in the tree, right.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
We've done it have you really yeah in the tree
right.
We've done it.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
That's great.
So tell us about some of thespecialized training.
You touched on it just a littlebit at the beginning, but what
are some of the training thatthe Johnson City Fire Department
receives?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So they receive over 200 hours a year of training.
It's going to diversify for EMS.
They have their qualifications.
They've got to meet there.
We do a lot of technical rescuetraining, so visual tracking
that's one we're getting readyto do right now.
They'll use GPS land navigationso people on the mountain that
get lost A lot of times.
(13:05):
Cell phones aren't an option,so they have to find ways to set
up divisions and locate theseindividuals and go through a
strategic process to find them.
Oh, okay.
Obviously, our fire training isa big part of it.
Hazmat training, you name it.
If we do it, we're going totrain on it.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Oh my goodness.
So do they have to fit that inwith their?
Do they have to do that, apartfrom their regular working hours
, to work in those 200 hours oftraining at them?
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That occurs on shift, so they're doing that while
they're at work.
Now we send them to classesaround the country as well to
get some more specializedtraining and just get a more
holistic view of industrychanges as they come.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
What would be some of those classes that in other
parts of the country that thatmaybe you would attend?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
They do in New Mexico .
There's a like a bomb classwhere they go out there for a
lot of the hazmat stuff, Causethey have the I can't remember
the name of the facility outthere.
The base Alabama has a rail carthat they use to simulate what
happened, kind of, in Ohio.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
East, palestine, ohio , that kind of a response.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
So there's all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Wow, and I guess with you know the flooding that
happened, I bet you guys werejust inundated with calls and
helping the area in Irwin andUnicoi.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Correct.
Yeah, we had our people helpingwith the search and rescue and
we have a swift water rescueteam and they were involved in
that.
And then some of us that arechief level officers were in
what they call the EmergencyOperations Center, the EOC.
So kind of the strategy,logistics, that sort of thing.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Were you part of that where they were trying to
rescue people at Unicoi Hospitaloff the roof?
I know they tried to bringboats in.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Our people were not a part of that one, but we were
involved in several rescues.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Okay, okay, yeah, we never thought that would ever
happen in our area, did we?
Speaker 3 (15:13):
It's a 5,000-year event 5,000?
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
It's a 5,000-year event.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Well, and I think you can go by and I've not seen it
in person, just from picturesbecause I know they want people
to not be going to those placesto look.
I mean, if you're going to help, that's great, but don't just
go to look and have the extratraffic or something in the way.
But I know the river hasactually changed, the Nolichucky
(15:39):
.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Correct, I had the opportunity to go up on a
blackhawk to survey the areaafterwards, and yeah, it's a new
topography.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
That is crazy.
That is crazy and so manypeople have lost their homes
from that event businesses andhomes.
So I know October is FireSafety Month, right, correct,
okay, okay.
So you know we've got someleaves falling and everybody
(16:09):
seems to be wanting to hopefullyrake up those leaves and do
some cleanup.
So what kind of advice wouldyou give to people who they want
to burn leaves on theirproperty, they want to burn all
that brush and they live injohnson city?
So what are they supposed to do, adam?
Speaker 3 (16:29):
so collect it, put it out at the curb, the city will
come pick it up.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
We don't allow burning in the city.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yeah, it's just too much of an issue.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Thank you.
Oh my gosh.
You know, we lived in thecounty for years in Kingsport
and Sullivan County, and peoplewould always burn their leaves,
their brush.
You'd be outside on a beautifulday and that smoke and stuff
would just be.
It wouldn't be nice, it wouldnot be pleasant.
(16:58):
So is there a certain time ofthe week?
So if I put all my brush outthere at the edge of my property
, is there a certain day thatit's picked up, or is it just?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
There is.
If you go on the city website,it'll identify that day for okay
, just like we have differenttrash days, the same thing okay,
all right, well, good to know.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
And then so for johnson city fire department.
So in 2023, let's talk a littlebit of data.
So how many calls for servicedid you receive?
Speaker 3 (17:28):
oh, just under 10,000 .
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Okay, and our total population here in Johnson City?
I don't know that off the topof my head 73,343.
You are exact.
That is awesome.
I think they were talking inour Johnson City 101 class that
I think like over 6,000 peoplehad moved to Johnson City within
(17:52):
the last what year, or maybe afew years' time frame.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Yeah, and that population, johnson City is kind
of the regional hub soeverybody works here and plays
here.
So in the daytime businesshours that goes up substantially
, probably closer to 150,000.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Yeah, it is, and I think Johnson, I mean it's a
great place to be.
There's great restaurants,there's fun things to do here.
So what would be something thatwould surprise listeners to
know about the Johnson City FireDepartment?
So surprise us, adam.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Surprise us, we do so much with data and analytics.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
I think it would shock people Really, yeah, okay.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
We're not looking at how many calls.
We're looking at predictingwhen they're going to occur and
where they're going to occur.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Just by analyzing patterns.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, just by analyzingpatterns Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
So.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Well, have you found that to be pretty on spot?
I mean spot on, looking at thatdata.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Humans are predictable.
Oh okay, so it's shockinglypredictable.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
So what would be when you talk about like patterns?
What would that?
What does that look like whenyou're looking at the data?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
You'll look at a certain area of the city, a
certain neighborhood.
Let's look at the overalldemographics of that area.
As that population group mightget a little bit older, You're
going to see a little bit moreneed for medical services.
So we can predict okay, this isgoing to be an uptick.
Then when ETSU is in session,we can guarantee we're going to
(19:34):
have additional cooking firesand we can plan out where
they're going to be and we cansee when they're on Christmas
break and summer break.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
That is amazing and so you use that information to.
Is that information used to?
I know you said you wanted tohopefully put in some more fire
stations.
Is that information used tohelp say we've got this data, we
need a fire station in thisparticular area.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Yeah, we're always leveraging it to make our
argument with facts rather thanemotions.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah, that's good.
We need facts.
That's what everybody wantsnowadays data.
If you didn't record it, itdidn't happen, that's good.
We need facts.
That's what everybody wantsnowadays data.
If you didn't record it, itdidn't happen.
Right, correct.
So what are some other thingsthat would be helpful for
homeowners to just to make surethat you know we're keeping our
homes safe?
I mean, we've got smokedetectors.
(20:30):
I think the CO2 detector is agreat thing to have and, like I
said, we have a propane tank, sowe'll definitely get one.
That's something I didn't eventhink about.
What would be some other goodthings as a responsible
homeowner?
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Well, especially with kids, limiting the access to
those household cleaners, andall that under the sinks.
I've got three kids, so one ofthe things that I would always
when they were little, I wouldhave the fear of them grabbing
that boiling pot of water on thestovetop and pulling it on.
(21:07):
So put that at the back burner,stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Hot hair irons and blow dryers.
Don't just leave them touchingstuff.
They're hot for a while,especially those curling irons.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Should we unplug them after we use?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
them.
Yeah, let's unplug them and getthem away from the hanging
towels and whatnot.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Okay, well, that's another thing.
I'll turn it off, but I don'tunplug my curling iron, so I
need to make sure to do that.
So what about so hazardoussubstances, especially with your
children?
What about a microwave?
I see so many microwaves thatare above the stove and I think
about opening that door to themicrowave.
(21:48):
I've got a hot dish and it'scoming.
You know, it's above shoulderlevel.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
So is there an option maybe to try to, you know,
think about putting yourmicrowave at a I don't know, and
I'm just I'm just asking you ata lower level versus up high.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
I guess that would be the preference of the homeowner
and however they feel it worksbest for them.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Okay, and so what about businesses here in Johnson
City?
Are they required to have likea sprinkler system installed, or
are there some that'sgrandfathered in and don't have
to do that?
Or is the new, you know,regulation for inspection
something that they have to have?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
They're going to be inspected as a new business.
We always encourage sprinklersystems.
Not every business has to haveone, depending on the building
and the nature of their business, but we definitely encourage
them because they prevent a lotof damage and life loss.
Right, right.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
So I think, too, that you were talking about your
relationship with the waterdepartment, and I think this is
fascinating and I can't speak toit as well as you do.
I would love for you to sharethat.
So when you respond to a fire,and so the fire hydrants and
things like that, how do you,how is it you're working with
(23:11):
the water department to put outthat fire?
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Well, I think it starts in the preparation,
because the water departmentworks with us and we have all
the hydrants located and we knowwhat the flow is.
If you ever drive by in thecity, or any city, and you
notice how the tops of them area different color, that's
indicating the water flow.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
And we know that.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
So if it's a blue top , we're happy, if it's a red top
, we're not so happy.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
So it starts there and then, knowing that location,
so they're testing them,they're making sure they're
maintained, so we go out thereand we have a fire.
Well, what happens if it's abig fire and we're not getting
enough water?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
We make a call to the water department and they can
up the pressure and up thevolume of that water to a
specific location by utilizingdifferent sectors in the city
and doing their magic over thereto make that happen for us.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
That's amazing.
Is that something that mostwater departments and fire
departments do in cities, or isthat just unique to Johnson City
?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
I don't think it's unique to Johnson City, but I do
think we have a really goodrapport with them, and I know we
work together fairly well, sothey're always right there to
help us.
They'll never tell us no.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
And I think you know what you said.
At best it's really the rapport.
It's basically teamwork, right?
Yeah, you're working togetherbecause we all want a safe
community to live in and you'reon the administrative side.
So what's some of your jobdescription look like on the
administrative side of thebusiness?
Speaker 3 (24:50):
So the reason I know the data so well is because
that's what I'm doing Policyresearching, things from a legal
standpoint to make sure we'redoing things within compliance
of standards, making sure thatwe're the support team for those
people out there, making surethey have what they need.
That's what it all comes downto.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
And so what would you tell a young person that comes
to you and says Adam, you know,I think I want to be a
firefighter?
What would you say to thatperson, or what advice would you
give them?
Speaker 3 (25:23):
I think it's the best job in the world.
Now I will say to them thatyou've got to be prepared to
grow up a little earlier thanyou might with some other jobs.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Because you're going to be expected to be an adult a
little earlier.
I think education is importantfor them too, and so if they
knock those things out beforethey have a wife and kids, it's
not a bad idea, because theymight need that later on to
advance up the ranks.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yes, yes, that is great, and I know a lot of young
children.
You know they want to be afirefighter or a police officer,
or you know it's such a nobleprofession.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Mine just want to be YouTube influencers.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
How old are your children?
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Adam 14, 12, and 6.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Okay, 14.
That, that makes sense.
Yeah, so what do you?
What do you tell your children?
They want to be YouTubeinfluencers.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
It's not real social media stuff.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
It's all well and good, but it's just it's.
It's not what we see, is it?
Yeah, so well, adam, I want tothank you for being with us
today and just your time, andthank you for serving the
community and the residents ofJohnson City and what you do,
and thank you for having a heartof service and also thinking
(26:48):
that this is the best job in theworld.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Awesome, I hope you'll come back.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(27:17):
If you did make sure to like,rate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(27:39):
Benchmark Happenings.
This is Benchmark Happenings, brought to you by
Jonathan and Steve fromBenchmark Home Loans.
Northeast Tennessee, johnsonCity, kingsport, bristol, the
Tri-Cities One of the mostbeautiful places in the country
to live.
Tons of great things to do andawesome local businesses.
(00:22):
And on this show you'll findout why people are dying to move
to Northeast Tennessee.
And on the way we'll havediscussions about mortgages and
we'll interview people in thereal estate industry.
It's what we do.
This is Benchmark Happenings,brought to you by Benchmark Home
Loans and now your host,christine Reed.
(00:42):
And now your host, christineReed.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Well, welcome back everybody to another podcast
with Benchmark Happenings, andso we always have a star of the
show.
So I'll have to tell you thereason we have this star today
is because I actually enrolledand participated in a class of
Johnson City 101.
And it was a class to learnabout all the great things about
(01:07):
Johnson City all themunicipalities, our fire
department, our policedepartment, and so today we have
the Johnson City FireDepartment Administrative
District Chief, adam Momberger.
So, adam, thank you for beinghere today.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Absolutely Well.
It's a privilege and we doappreciate your time.
I know you're a busy guy withlots to do.
So we talk about the JohnsonCity Fire Department, the
mission and core values.
The Johnson City FireDepartment's mission is to be
the all-hazards provider to thecitizens and visitors through
(01:48):
prevention, preparedness andemergency response.
The core values will help theJohnson City Fire Department to
establish their guidingphilosophy.
So I love that and I love theacronym HELP.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, it's a good memory tool for us and it really
embodies what we do and what wethink our character is.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Absolutely, and I'm just going to cover that.
So HELP, honesty, truthful inall we do, e for empathy,
compassion for all in need,loyalty devoted to serving the
community, professionalismthrough valued service.
Yeah, so, adam, firefightersare just sort of near and dear
(02:33):
to our hearts here at Benchmark,and my husband, Steve, his dad,
is a retired firefighter, so Iknow that the job just requires
it's a heart of service that youhave, and that every
firefighter out there.
So you care about people.
And so, adam, are you originalto Johnson City or did you move
(02:57):
from a different area?
Speaker 3 (02:59):
I originally lived in Ohio and I moved here
approximately 2004.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Okay, so what brought you to Johnson City?
Speaker 3 (03:09):
It was several facets of the area.
You know the beautiful climate,escaping the taxes.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
No state tax in Tennessee right.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, a diversified economy a stable economy.
That isn't just wrapped up inone industry, like much of the
Midwest.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Absolutely so.
You've settled here and this isyour home, so why did you
become a firefighter?
Speaker 3 (03:38):
I believe in the value of civil service.
I've always liked the idea ofhelping leave the world a better
place than what you came intoit with and the excitement of it
.
I think all firefighters wantthat excitement.
It's a little different thanthe day-to-day for a lot of
other occupations.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Yeah, and so really the physical aspect of being a
firefighter it's pretty intense.
Not that you're out there doinga lot of things like that every
day, but when those timeshappen it calls for a lot of
resiliency and a lot of strength.
So what type of physicaldemands do you put your team
(04:23):
through as firefighters just tobe ready for those times that
when they have to respond?
Speaker 3 (04:31):
So we train regularly , daily, but we try to do a
performance evaluation ofeverybody.
We call it an air consumptiondrill.
So every year you've seen themwear what we call an SCBA, which
is the backpack they've got onthat's full of air.
Well it's a finite resource.
The amount of air is finite.
So they need to make it last aslong as possible so they can be
(04:53):
as effective as possible.
So every October, november.
So we're getting ready to do itall of our personnel will put on
all their gear and they conductthis obstacle course, and it's
not how fast they can do it,it's how many times they can do
it on a single bottle.
So they're making their airlast long.
(05:15):
They're learning to do that,they're learning to manage their
breathing and it's a good tool.
And we track it year to year sowe can see are they improving,
are they?
as we get older, there's goingto be a little declination, but
it's a good tool for us that'sawesome and when we did our tour
with the fire department it wasabsolutely fascinating.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
I was so impressed with the amount of time that
they you have to put on thatuniform when you have to go to a
fire.
It was the pants and the bootsand the hat and the respirator.
What's the time frame on that?
Speaker 3 (05:51):
So we call all of that turnout gear.
That's kind of our ensemble.
And we try to be out of thestation in a minute 20.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Wow, that's amazing.
So we all know the importanceof.
I'm going to kind of track onto insurance, right, but some
people may not know that JohnsonCity Fire Department could play
a role in lowering homeownerpremiums.
So, adam, how is that possible?
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So there is this evaluation tool that it's called
ISO and it's looking at thethree things that would affect a
fire.
So we have an evaluation of thefire department, which makes up
50% of it.
We have an evaluation of thewater department, which makes up
the 40%, and then 10% for thecommunication system or dispatch
(06:38):
.
So it takes all three of thoseand it collaborates or
configures a score, almost likea grade for a test.
Okay, or anything over 90 isconsidered ISO 1, which is the
best, and we're fortunate to bean ISO 1.
A lot of the credit goes to thecity's water department, which
(07:00):
is unbelievable.
We always hear they can'tbelieve that our water
department is as good as it is.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
It is that's awesome, so let me ask you this it is
that's awesome, so let me askyou this so, with having that
ISO rating of one, do othercities have that or do they kind
of struggle to get there?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
It is a struggle for a lot of other cities.
It's not that we're the onlyones, but there's another body,
the accreditation, just like auniversity would have their
accreditation, and there'sactually only three in the state
that are ISO 1 accredited andwe're one of the three.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Oh, my goodness, I hope everybody heard that.
So Johnson City, tennessee isone of three that has that ISO
rating of 1.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
So that's awesome ISO and accredited ISO 1 and
accredited and accredited.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
That is awesome.
So, wow, no ISO 1, andaccredited and accredited.
That is awesome.
So, wow, no wonder everybodywants to move here and be in
Johnson City, right?
So tell us about the makeup ofthe Johnson City Fire Department
, Adam.
How many firefighters do youhave?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
So we have 137 members of the fire department.
You'll find them in variousroles.
Some are in administrativeroles, like I am now, and
support staff, and then we havethe miracle workers out there on
the streets that are getting itdone every day.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Okay, and then.
So how many fire stations do wehave total?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Nine.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Nine Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
With hopes for more.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Hopes for more.
That's right, and so how manyfirefighters are at each station
?
So how many firefighters are ateach station?
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Each station is going to vary a little based on the
apparatus there.
So if it's just an engine, it'sgoing to have three.
If they have an engine and aladder truck, they're going to
have five or six.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Okay, yeah, and you mentioned those ladder trucks.
So when we did our tour we hadthe opportunity to climb the
ladder truck, did you like that?
Yes, I did.
It was a little intimidating, Iwill have to say, but I'll be
honest with you.
He didn't raise it very high,okay, and that was fine with me.
So I did climb to the top, butI slowly descended down as long
(09:04):
as you don't look down, you'llbe all right.
Yeah, that was awesome, but froma fire department perspective,
what are some tips that youwould give people buying or
building a home in Johnson city?
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Uh well, it's a cliche, but it's very true.
The smoke detector save livesand making sure there's
batteries in there.
Um every time the clock changes, time changes that change the
batteries.
Or, as we tell the kids everyHalloween and Easter, I need to
change it.
Talk to mom and dad.
If your house has gas, you needto have CO detectors because
(09:39):
that is a silent killer and needto make sure we have that on
all floors.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
Okay, so if we have like a propane tank that we use
for like at our house, like ourfireplaces and appliances, would
we still need a CO2 detector?
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Yeah, it's a good idea to have one.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Okay, all right.
Honey, you heard that we need aCO2 detector.
I'm all about that.
I like safety.
So change your batteries andyour smoke detectors twice a
year, with the time change.
I think that's really easy.
I like that.
So that's something good toknow.
So in Johnson City, what's themost common cause of a house
(10:19):
fire?
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Cooking fires.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Oh, okay.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Johnson City also has kind of a younger demographic,
as we know, and especially withthe college those life skills
haven't been fully fine tunedyet.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Okay, so if you have, if I'm cooking something on my
stove and there happens to be afire, maybe I had some grease
and it caught on fire what do wedo?
How do we handle that?
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Adam, first thing you need to do is call the fire
department.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
You could put a lid over it.
Do not throw water on itbecause it's just going to
disturb it.
From a real estate standpoint,they make these what they're
called stovetop, over-the-stoveextinguishers.
You just put them right underthe range, there under the hood,
and if they detect heat they'lldisperse the powder onto it and
(11:16):
it'll put it out and stop it.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Wow, that is cool.
Where can you get those?
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Lowe's Home Depot.
Any hardware store is going tocarry them.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Okay, now we do have fire extinguishers in our house
under the kitchen sink and stuffin a couple of places, but I'd
never heard of that.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
They're fairly new this decade.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Okay, well, that's great to know.
So when people think of theJohnson City Fire Department,
they typically think of men andwomen who put out fires, but
your work encompasses a wholelot more than that.
So what else do you do besidesfire suppression?
Speaker 3 (11:52):
So anytime you have a med call, the fire department's
going to be there, because allof our personnel are trained to
EMT level or above.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Hazardous materials calls so those chemicals that
they're bringing across theinterstate.
We're going to be the ones thatgo Technical rescue.
So if you get stuck on BuffaloMountain or a sprained ankle out
there, we'll be the ones thatcome along with our friends at
EMS.
If they don't know who to call,they call the fire department.
So we'll be there.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
That's our motto We'll be there, and if your
cat's up in the tree, right.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
We've done it have you really yeah in the tree
right.
We've done it.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
That's great.
So tell us about some of thespecialized training.
You touched on it just a littlebit at the beginning, but what
are some of the training thatthe Johnson City Fire Department
receives?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So they receive over 200 hours a year of training.
It's going to diversify for EMS.
They have their qualifications.
They've got to meet there.
We do a lot of technical rescuetraining, so visual tracking
that's one we're getting readyto do right now.
They'll use GPS land navigationso people on the mountain that
get lost A lot of times.
(13:05):
Cell phones aren't an option,so they have to find ways to set
up divisions and locate theseindividuals and go through a
strategic process to find them.
Oh, okay.
Obviously, our fire training isa big part of it.
Hazmat training, you name it.
If we do it, we're going totrain on it.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Oh my goodness.
So do they have to fit that inwith their?
Do they have to do that, apartfrom their regular working hours
, to work in those 200 hours oftraining at them?
Speaker 3 (13:34):
That occurs on shift, so they're doing that while
they're at work.
Now we send them to classesaround the country as well to
get some more specializedtraining and just get a more
holistic view of industrychanges as they come.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
What would be some of those classes that in other
parts of the country that thatmaybe you would attend?
Speaker 3 (13:54):
They do in New Mexico .
There's a like a bomb classwhere they go out there for a
lot of the hazmat stuff, Causethey have the I can't remember
the name of the facility outthere.
The base Alabama has a rail carthat they use to simulate what
happened, kind of, in Ohio.
Speaker 2 (14:13):
East, palestine, ohio , that kind of a response.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
So there's all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Wow, and I guess with you know the flooding that
happened, I bet you guys werejust inundated with calls and
helping the area in Irwin andUnicoi.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Correct.
Yeah, we had our people helpingwith the search and rescue and
we have a swift water rescueteam and they were involved in
that.
And then some of us that arechief level officers were in
what they call the EmergencyOperations Center, the EOC.
So kind of the strategy,logistics, that sort of thing.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Were you part of that where they were trying to
rescue people at Unicoi Hospitaloff the roof?
I know they tried to bringboats in.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Our people were not a part of that one, but we were
involved in several rescues.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Okay, okay, yeah, we never thought that would ever
happen in our area, did we?
Speaker 3 (15:13):
It's a 5,000-year event 5,000?
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
It's a 5,000-year event.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
Well, and I think you can go by and I've not seen it
in person, just from picturesbecause I know they want people
to not be going to those placesto look.
I mean, if you're going to help, that's great, but don't just
go to look and have the extratraffic or something in the way.
But I know the river hasactually changed, the Nolichucky
(15:39):
.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Correct, I had the opportunity to go up on a
blackhawk to survey the areaafterwards, and yeah, it's a new
topography.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
That is crazy.
That is crazy and so manypeople have lost their homes
from that event businesses andhomes.
So I know October is FireSafety Month, right, correct,
okay, okay.
So you know we've got someleaves falling and everybody
(16:09):
seems to be wanting to hopefullyrake up those leaves and do
some cleanup.
So what kind of advice wouldyou give to people who they want
to burn leaves on theirproperty, they want to burn all
that brush and they live injohnson city?
So what are they supposed to do, adam?
Speaker 3 (16:29):
so collect it, put it out at the curb, the city will
come pick it up.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
We don't allow burning in the city.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Yeah, it's just too much of an issue.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Thank you.
Oh my gosh.
You know, we lived in thecounty for years in Kingsport
and Sullivan County, and peoplewould always burn their leaves,
their brush.
You'd be outside on a beautifulday and that smoke and stuff
would just be.
It wouldn't be nice, it wouldnot be pleasant.
(16:58):
So is there a certain time ofthe week?
So if I put all my brush outthere at the edge of my property
, is there a certain day thatit's picked up, or is it just?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
There is.
If you go on the city website,it'll identify that day for okay
, just like we have differenttrash days, the same thing okay,
all right, well, good to know.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
And then so for johnson city fire department.
So in 2023, let's talk a littlebit of data.
So how many calls for servicedid you receive?
Speaker 3 (17:28):
oh, just under 10,000 .
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Okay, and our total population here in Johnson City?
I don't know that off the topof my head 73,343.
You are exact.
That is awesome.
I think they were talking inour Johnson City 101 class that
I think like over 6,000 peoplehad moved to Johnson City within
(17:52):
the last what year, or maybe afew years' time frame.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
Yeah, and that population, johnson City is kind
of the regional hub soeverybody works here and plays
here.
So in the daytime businesshours that goes up substantially
, probably closer to 150,000.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
Yeah, it is, and I think Johnson, I mean it's a
great place to be.
There's great restaurants,there's fun things to do here.
So what would be something thatwould surprise listeners to
know about the Johnson City FireDepartment?
So surprise us, adam.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Surprise us, we do so much with data and analytics.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
I think it would shock people Really, yeah, okay.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
We're not looking at how many calls.
We're looking at predictingwhen they're going to occur and
where they're going to occur.
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Just by analyzing patterns.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, just by analyzingpatterns Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (18:51):
So.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Well, have you found that to be pretty on spot?
I mean spot on, looking at thatdata.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Humans are predictable.
Oh okay, so it's shockinglypredictable.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
So what would be when you talk about like patterns?
What would that?
What does that look like whenyou're looking at the data?
Speaker 3 (19:14):
You'll look at a certain area of the city, a
certain neighborhood.
Let's look at the overalldemographics of that area.
As that population group mightget a little bit older, You're
going to see a little bit moreneed for medical services.
So we can predict okay, this isgoing to be an uptick.
Then when ETSU is in session,we can guarantee we're going to
(19:34):
have additional cooking firesand we can plan out where
they're going to be and we cansee when they're on Christmas
break and summer break.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
That is amazing and so you use that information to.
Is that information used to?
I know you said you wanted tohopefully put in some more fire
stations.
Is that information used tohelp say we've got this data, we
need a fire station in thisparticular area.
Speaker 3 (20:03):
Yeah, we're always leveraging it to make our
argument with facts rather thanemotions.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Yeah, that's good.
We need facts.
That's what everybody wantsnowadays data.
If you didn't record it, itdidn't happen, that's good.
We need facts.
That's what everybody wantsnowadays data.
If you didn't record it, itdidn't happen.
Right, correct.
So what are some other thingsthat would be helpful for
homeowners to just to make surethat you know we're keeping our
homes safe?
I mean, we've got smokedetectors.
(20:30):
I think the CO2 detector is agreat thing to have and, like I
said, we have a propane tank, sowe'll definitely get one.
That's something I didn't eventhink about.
What would be some other goodthings as a responsible
homeowner?
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Well, especially with kids, limiting the access to
those household cleaners, andall that under the sinks.
I've got three kids, so one ofthe things that I would always
when they were little, I wouldhave the fear of them grabbing
that boiling pot of water on thestovetop and pulling it on.
(21:07):
So put that at the back burner,stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
Hot hair irons and blow dryers.
Don't just leave them touchingstuff.
They're hot for a while,especially those curling irons.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
Should we unplug them after we use?
Speaker 3 (21:22):
them.
Yeah, let's unplug them and getthem away from the hanging
towels and whatnot.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Okay, well, that's another thing.
I'll turn it off, but I don'tunplug my curling iron, so I
need to make sure to do that.
So what about so hazardoussubstances, especially with your
children?
What about a microwave?
I see so many microwaves thatare above the stove and I think
about opening that door to themicrowave.
(21:48):
I've got a hot dish and it'scoming.
You know, it's above shoulderlevel.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
So is there an option maybe to try to, you know,
think about putting yourmicrowave at a I don't know, and
I'm just I'm just asking you ata lower level versus up high.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
I guess that would be the preference of the homeowner
and however they feel it worksbest for them.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Okay, and so what about businesses here in Johnson
City?
Are they required to have likea sprinkler system installed, or
are there some that'sgrandfathered in and don't have
to do that?
Or is the new, you know,regulation for inspection
something that they have to have?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
They're going to be inspected as a new business.
We always encourage sprinklersystems.
Not every business has to haveone, depending on the building
and the nature of their business, but we definitely encourage
them because they prevent a lotof damage and life loss.
Right, right.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
So I think, too, that you were talking about your
relationship with the waterdepartment, and I think this is
fascinating and I can't speak toit as well as you do.
I would love for you to sharethat.
So when you respond to a fire,and so the fire hydrants and
things like that, how do you,how is it you're working with
(23:11):
the water department to put outthat fire?
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Well, I think it starts in the preparation,
because the water departmentworks with us and we have all
the hydrants located and we knowwhat the flow is.
If you ever drive by in thecity, or any city, and you
notice how the tops of them area different color, that's
indicating the water flow.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
And we know that.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
So if it's a blue top , we're happy, if it's a red top
, we're not so happy.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (23:38):
So it starts there and then, knowing that location,
so they're testing them,they're making sure they're
maintained, so we go out thereand we have a fire.
Well, what happens if it's abig fire and we're not getting
enough water?
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
We make a call to the water department and they can
up the pressure and up thevolume of that water to a
specific location by utilizingdifferent sectors in the city
and doing their magic over thereto make that happen for us.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
That's amazing.
Is that something that mostwater departments and fire
departments do in cities, or isthat just unique to Johnson City
?
Speaker 3 (24:15):
I don't think it's unique to Johnson City, but I do
think we have a really goodrapport with them, and I know we
work together fairly well, sothey're always right there to
help us.
They'll never tell us no.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
And I think you know what you said.
At best it's really the rapport.
It's basically teamwork, right?
Yeah, you're working togetherbecause we all want a safe
community to live in and you'reon the administrative side.
So what's some of your jobdescription look like on the
administrative side of thebusiness?
Speaker 3 (24:50):
So the reason I know the data so well is because
that's what I'm doing Policyresearching, things from a legal
standpoint to make sure we'redoing things within compliance
of standards, making sure thatwe're the support team for those
people out there, making surethey have what they need.
That's what it all comes downto.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
And so what would you tell a young person that comes
to you and says Adam, you know,I think I want to be a
firefighter?
What would you say to thatperson, or what advice would you
give them?
Speaker 3 (25:23):
I think it's the best job in the world.
Now I will say to them thatyou've got to be prepared to
grow up a little earlier thanyou might with some other jobs.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
Because you're going to be expected to be an adult a
little earlier.
I think education is importantfor them too, and so if they
knock those things out beforethey have a wife and kids, it's
not a bad idea, because theymight need that later on to
advance up the ranks.
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yes, yes, that is great, and I know a lot of young
children.
You know they want to be afirefighter or a police officer,
or you know it's such a nobleprofession.
Speaker 3 (26:07):
Mine just want to be YouTube influencers.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
How old are your children?
Speaker 3 (26:12):
Adam 14, 12, and 6.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Okay, 14.
That, that makes sense.
Yeah, so what do you?
What do you tell your children?
They want to be YouTubeinfluencers.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
It's not real social media stuff.
Speaker 2 (26:24):
It's all well and good, but it's just it's.
It's not what we see, is it?
Yeah, so well, adam, I want tothank you for being with us
today and just your time, andthank you for serving the
community and the residents ofJohnson City and what you do,
and thank you for having a heartof service and also thinking
(26:48):
that this is the best job in theworld.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
Awesome, I hope you'll come back.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
This has been Benchmark Happenings, brought to
you by Jonathan Tipton andSteve Reed from Benchmark Home
Loans.
Jonathan and Steve areresidential mortgage lenders.
They do home loans in NortheastTennessee and they're not only
licensed in Tennessee butFlorida, georgia, south Carolina
and Virginia.
We hope you've enjoyed the show.
(27:17):
If you did make sure to like,rate and review.
Our passion is NortheastTennessee, so if you have
questions about mortgages, callus at 423-491-5405.
And the website iswwwjonathanandstevecom.
Thanks for being with us andwe'll see you next time on
(27:39):
Benchmark Happenings.
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