Hometown Heroes – Chief Luffman

written by Reagan Smithing

The movies always depict fire stations as busy, action-packed, and intense places, but walking through the doors of the Mt. Juliet Fire Department could not have felt more different. The smiling faces of those on duty are the first things seen; the brown leather couches and worn kitchen table only add to the warmth and family atmosphere of Station 1.

Fire Chief Jamie Luffman is at the center of it all, though he would deny being the center of anything. Luffman’s first impression is one of kindness and compassion. He effortlessly makes every person in a room feel noticed, valued, and loved. His charisma doesn’t change when speaking to strangers, either, but rather emphasizes it as he highlights the best in each individual.

While discussing Dwayne Still, a former co-worker only a few years older than Luffman, he smiles and chuckles while reminiscing about the times they spent on an ambulance deemed the “geriatric truck.” According to Luffman, they would spend 24 hours “trying to find people that were older than us and in worse shape than us” but struggled to find anyone in such a condition.

Luffman speaks of the firefighters’ dedication to each other, and to the community, they serve, how they go to work the second they hear the bell calling them. He describes how “the people that are having a bad day can bank on the fact that it’s going to get better when the wheels stop and their boots start.” Not once does Luffman place himself in the spotlight. Instead, he shines that light on the men and women he works with and how he wouldn’t be where he is today without those phenomenal people. He manages the Mount Juliet Fire Stations with the community in mind, knowing that a team driven by love for the community results in a cohort that knows exactly who it is protecting: the people of Mount Juliet, all day, every day.
The Chief’s favorite part of his job is putting his firefighters in the public’s eye; he wants you to see their faces, to know who they are, rather than just masks and uniforms. He emphasizes “this station is not your work area. This community, that’s your office, that’s where you do your job.”

It is with this in mind that the MJFD goes out to festivals, gives demonstrations at schools, participates in parades, and lets children climb in the firetruck–encouraging them to explore inside and giving them care packages. They want to be more than just emergency responders, they also want the citizens to be a part of the fire department, which is why they stay ready to serve.

Chief Luffman encourages volunteer firefighters to train and grow, as this kind of work isn’t something they get to do every day; it’s important that they continue to be interested, excited, and motivated.

Luffman himself is a strong believer in learning more about his craft so that he can keep firefighters and fire victims safe. He won’t hesitate to tell you about the different tests that have been done, and the discoveries that have been made, so that fires can be defeated using safer techniques. His expanding knowledge shows his dedication to this craft and his coworkers in it.

These same qualities have been seen by others, which is why Chief Luffman has been asked to instruct future firefighters. Luffman plans to pursue this career. He doesn’t have a retirement plan.

He is determined to keep on “working right up until the day they say ‘Tap, tap, tap…It’s time to go,’ but first, he wants to see the building of the new fire station in the North District of Mt Juliet. This new fire station has been in the works for the last three years, and the Fire Department only recently closed on the land.

The new North District fire station will be built at the intersection of Lebanon Road and North Greenhill Road near the Green Hill High School. It’s a major focus for Chief Luffman currently because he understands that this new station will help to keep Wilson County residents in this area safer.

Luffman’s hopes for the future are that Mount Juliet establish three paid stations and some smaller substations, as this will help to ensure the safety of our rapidly growing population.

Every day he works to make this future a reality, and he does it all with a smile and sense of humor that motivates everyone around him to see an obstacle as an opportunity for growth.