TriStar FOOLS

07/10/2026

🔥 Meet a FOOL Friday 🔥

Travis May

With 11 years in the fire service, Travis May currently serves as the Lieutenant at Station 17 with Rural Metro Fire Department in Knox County. He began his career with the Harriman City Fire Department before transitioning to Rural Metro, where he continues to serve his community with pride. Dedicated to protecting lives, property, and those around him, Travis believes the foundation of a successful fireman is built through hard work, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to the job.

A firm believer that training never stops, Travis is always looking for opportunities to learn, whether that's in the classroom or on the drill ground. He believes a strong foundation in the fundamentals is what allows firefighters to continue building their skills throughout their careers. Just as important to him is helping others succeed, both in and out of the fire service.

Travis joined the Tri-Star FOOLS because of the organization's commitment to bringing together dedicated firemen who share a passion for training, networking, and pushing each other to become better firefighters. To him, the brotherhood extends far beyond the firehouse and is built through shared experiences, mentorship, and a commitment to leaving the fire service better than we found it.

Outside of the job, Travis is a devoted husband to his wife, Lizzie, and a proud father to their six-month-old daughter. He is also an avid hunter and considers his family to be his greatest motivation. They are the reason he strives to be better every day, both as a firefighter and as a man.

When asked what drives him, his answer is simple: to leave the fire service better than he found it through passion, hard work, and dedication.

07/07/2026

🔥🔥We get a lot of questions asking, "What is the FOOLS?" or "What are you guys all about?" So we figured we'd answer it.

The Fraternal Order Of Leatherheads Society was founded by firefighters who believed that this job is more than just a career. It's a calling. The FOOLS was built around preserving the traditions of the fire service while constantly pushing ourselves to become better firefighters through training, mentorship, and brotherhood. FOOLS grew into an international organization with chapters all over the world. The leather helmet represents where we came from, but our focus is on preparing firefighters for the fires of today and tomorrow.

Here at Tri-Star FOOLS, that's exactly what we stand for.

We are a chapter made up of career and volunteer firefighters from departments across East Tennessee who share one common goal: becoming better firefighters. We don't care what patch is on your sleeve or what color your truck is. When we come together, we train together, learn from one another, and build relationships that make us all stronger.

Brotherhood isn't just something we talk about. It's showing up for one another. It's picking up the phone when a brother needs help. It's traveling across the state to train together. It's challenging each other to improve while leaving the ego at the door.

Firemanship is at the core of everything we do. We believe in getting our hands dirty, mastering the basics, and never settling for "good enough." Every class we host, every drill we attend, and every conversation we have is centered around one mission: becoming more proficient so we can better serve the people who call us on their worst day.

If that sounds like the kind of fire service you believe in, we'd love to have you with us.

Whether you're a rookie, a seasoned firefighter, career, volunteer, or somewhere in between, there is a place for you in Tri-Star FOOLS. Come train with us. Come learn with us. Come build the brotherhood with us.

Stay low. Stay aggressive. Stay humble.

Interested in joining? Reach out to us or email us at [email protected]. We'd be proud to welcome you into the chapter.

PS… you don’t need a leather to join our chapter! Just no euro helmets😉 just kidding😏

07/03/2026

🔥Meet a FOOL Friday🔥

JC Townsend

JC Townsend began his fire service career in 2010 as a volunteer firefighter before being hired by the Clinton Fire Department in 2012. Since then, he has progressed through the ranks, serving as a Senior Firefighter, Lieutenant, and currently as Captain on C-Shift. Along the way, JC also spent time serving with Rural Metro Fire in Knox County, further broadening his experience in the fire service.

What drives JC most is the brotherhood that comes with the job and the opportunity to be part of something his community can always depend on when they need help most. He believes the fire service is built on trust, commitment, and showing up when others cannot.

JC would also like to recognize the firefighters he has the privilege of serving alongside every shift: Shawn, Rocky, Teddy, Buck, and Matt. He credits his crew for helping make the job worthwhile and for always having each other's backs.

He would also like to give a shoutout to the Axemen Firefighter MC, an international firefighter motorcycle club where he has built lasting friendships with some of the finest firefighters from across the country.

We are proud to have Captain JC Townsend as part of the Tri-Star FOOLS Brotherhood.

06/26/2026

🔥Meet a FOOL Friday🔥

Tyler Evans - PR Chair of YOUR TriStar FOOLS

Tyler Evans brings more than a decade of fire service experience to the Tri-Star FOOLS, serving both career and volunteer departments across rural, suburban, and urban communities. He currently serves as a back-step firefighter with Rutherford County Fire Rescue, protecting one of Tennessee's fastest-growing regions.

Tyler is the founder of The Citizen's Firemen, a respected training cadre and social media platform dedicated to challenging complacency and pushing back against the modern "safety culture" mindset. Alongside a talented group of instructors, he is committed to promoting aggressive, competent, and disciplined firefighting while advocating for a fire service that better serves the citizens who depend on us.

A passionate student and instructor of the craft, Tyler's primary training focus includes engine company operations, search, and forcible entry. His knowledge and message have earned him invitations to several well-known fire service podcasts, including National Fire Radio, Student of the Game, Tailboard Misfits, The Size Up, and Prepared to Fight Fire, where he continues to share his experience and passion with firefighters across the country.

In addition to serving as the Public Relations Chair for the Tri-Star FOOLS, Tyler is an active member of the Tri-Star FOOLS Training Cadre, helping develop and deliver high-quality, hands-on training for firefighters throughout Tennessee.

Tyler embodies what the FOOLS stand for: remaining a student of the job, challenging the status quo, and never settling for "good enough." His commitment to training, mentorship, and preserving the aggressive traditions of the fire service makes him an invaluable member of our chapter.

06/21/2026

Today, we'd like to wish a Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, especially the fathers within our Tri-Star FOOLS family.

The fire service and fatherhood have a lot in common.

Both require sacrifice, patience, leadership, and a willingness to put others before yourself. Whether it's answering the tones in the middle of the night, spending hours at training, or missing time at home because the community needs you, being a firefighter often means balancing two callings: serving the public and being there for your family.

Behind every firefighter is a family that shares in those sacrifices, and for many of our members, being a father is the title they are most proud to hold.

To all the dads working today, sitting around the kitchen table at the station, spending time with family, or remembering those who helped shape them into the men they are today, we salute you.

Thank you for the example you set for your children, your crews, and the next generation of firefighters. The lessons learned around the firehouse and around the dinner table help shape the future of our profession.

From all of us at Tri-Star FOOLS, Happy Father's Day. We hope you have a safe and blessed day surrounded by the people who matter most.

Stay safe, stay humble, and keep being the example.

06/19/2026

🔥Meet a FOOL Friday🔥

Rob Deschambeault - Tri-Star FOOLS Trustee

Rob Deschambeault brings more than 20 years of fire service experience to the TriStar FOOLS and currently serves as the Chapter Trustee. Throughout his career, Rob has held a variety of operational and leadership positions across the country, including serving with Greenback Fire Department, as a Lieutenant and Training Officer with the Fryeburg (ME) Fire Department, and as a Captain with the Chaffee County Fire Protection District in Colorado. His fire service journey began as a live-in firefighter at Stations 2 and 11 in Montgomery County, Maryland while attending college. Prior to returning to Tennessee, Rob was also an active member of the New England FOOLS.

A lifelong student of the fire service, Rob is passionate about training and professional development. Whether instructing Firefighter I and II courses or attending classes to sharpen his own skills, he firmly believes that learning never stops. His dedication to the profession led him to earn his Professional Engineer (P.E.) license in Fire Protection, further demonstrating his commitment to advancing both the science and practice of firefighting.

Away from the firehouse, Rob is a devoted family man. He and his wife, Laura, have been married for 35 years and have raised four children, three of whom have followed in his footsteps by serving in the fire service. His passion for the job, commitment to training, and dedication to the brotherhood make him a valued leader and trusted resource within the TriStar FOOLS.

06/17/2026

Check out The Passionate Leader newest episode featuring TriStar President, Tyler! They talk how he got his start in the fire service, leadership philosophy, and just generally talk shop about the job! 🚒🔥🤺

This episode features Tyler Tesch, a Marine Corps veteran and fire ...

06/16/2026

Be there in August 22nd for some killer training, firemanship, and just being surrounded by folks into the job! Solid training opportunity with quality instructors that will give their all so you walk away with SOMETHING new!
As mentioned in Foothill’s post, gear inspections WILL BE CONDUCTED! DO NOT show up with jacked up gear, as it will not pass the inspection. Must bring home unit SCBA, mask, and at least two spare bottles.
Come on down and let’s grow together!! 😎🔥🤺
To Register, Venmo FoothillFOOLS and put “search class” in the notes.
We will see you down there ready to crush it!🚒🚒🔥🔥🤺