At Atmos Energy, we are proud to support our community heroes through our Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities initiative. For this month’s Nonprofit Spotlight, we would like to recognize and show gratitude to a Tennessee fire department we have supported for many years thanks to a special connection with one of our employees. 

According to Public Affairs Manager Christina Christiansen, Operations Supervisor Kenny Hay has built a decades-long relationship with the Franklin Fire Department, leading to several of our operations employees befriending the firefighters and establishing trust between both parties. Christiansen said the fire department even dials our employees for a second opinion on emergencies unrelated to natural gas. 

“Our relationship with the Franklin Fire Department is one of the most valuable partnerships I think we have,” said Christiansen. “It is more than simply responding to emergencies or cut lines. They support us, and vice versa, all throughout the year for a variety of events and projects.” 

Franklin Fire Chief Glenn Johnson stated that the fire department, together with Atmos Energy, educated 924 students at six elementary schools last spring – primarily third and fifth graders – about home safety, natural gas safety, and the dangers and consequences of playing with fire.  

“This is the second year we’ve teamed up for school presentations, but we have frequently worked together in the past on several projects," said Johnson. “Atmos Energy has sponsored several Franklin Fire Department events over the years, including its annual Fire Prevention Week contests and an Open House and 9/11 Ceremony last year." 

Christiansen added that Atmos Energy will grill for the fire department’s open house, providing community members with hot dogs, chips, water, and cookies. This past December, our employees helped the fire department wrap presents for the Franklin Firefighters Charities’ annual Christmas event. Christiansen said tables replaced fire trucks in the fire hall so community members could wrap gifts for children in need. 

The Franklin Fire Chiefs also supported Atmos Energy this summer, attending our Pollinator Garden Dedication Ceremony at the Williamson County Public Library. Along with the City of Franklin, the fire department asked Atmos Energy to partner with them to build a pollinator garden at one of the fire stations. 

"We greatly value the close relationship with Atmos Energy that we've built over the years,” said Johnson. “This collaboration has helped us achieve the best outcomes on countless emergency scenes and accomplish vital outreach and educational goals in our community, making it safer and stronger. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts in the future." 

The Franklin Fire Department’s mission is to provide the highest level of service and protection through prevention, training, response, communication, and preparedness. A fire department that likely started as a volunteer organization in the 19th century, as was common in many American towns and cities during that period, now reflects the growth and changes of the community it serves. Today, Atmos Energy is proud to support the Franklin Fire Department as it emphasizes community education and prevention, offering programs on fire safety, emergency preparedness, and public health.  

To learn more about the Franklin Fire Department, click here.