Decatur County outlines centralized emergency, health and waste services

Decatur County’s public-safety infrastructure centers on a single dispatch hub that coordinates law enforcement, fire, medical and rescue responses across the county. Decatur County 911, which went online on October 19, 1995, now handles calls for the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, the police departments in Decaturville, Parsons and Scotts Hill, Decatur County EMS and first responders, the Rescue Squad, 22 volunteer fire stations, Forestry, Tennessee Highway Patrol wreck response and contracted wrecker services.

The 911 office maintains operator qualifications and training standards in emergency medical dispatch (EMD), NCIC access, hazardous materials awareness and CAD/mapping to support coordinated responses. Residents should note the non-emergency dispatch number, 731-852-3911, for issues that do not require immediate emergency response.

Ground and water rescue in the county is largely volunteer-driven. The Decatur County Rescue Squad out of Parsons operates crash trucks, Broncos, work boats and a pontoon boat and responds to vehicle crashes, land and water searches and traffic control. The squad is primarily volunteer-run and supported by donations, reflecting the county’s reliance on local civic commitment for specialty responses.

Fire protection is provided countywide by 22 volunteer trucks organized into multiple volunteer fire departments and paged through Decatur County 911. County listings identify chiefs and station locations, including Station #1, Chief Robert Kelly in Parsons at 535 East Main St.; Station #2, Chief Melvin Brasher in Bath Springs at 3645 Hwy 114 West; Station #3, Chief Jeremy Inman in Decaturville at 19 North East St.; Station #4, Chief Brian Holland serving the Clyde Richardson Rd and Sugar Tree area; Station #5, Chief Eugene Tubbs covering the Parsons area; Station #6, also Chief Melvin Brasher at Bob’s Landing and Bath Springs; and Station #9, Chief John Sap Collett on Jeannette-Holladay Rd in Parsons. Fire rating distinctions affect planning and insurance: the county overall carries a 6/X rating while the City of Parsons holds a Class 3 rating and Decaturville a Class 6 rating.

Public health and senior services operate locally as well. The Decatur County Health Department is located at 155 North Pleasant Street in Decaturville and posts hours and contact details through county channels. A Senior Center in Parsons coordinates meals, activities and services for residents age 60 and older.

Household waste and recycling are served by multiple residential convenience centers, including the Fairgrounds Convenience Center in Parsons, the Jeanette Convenience Center, Wylie Gardner Convenience Center in Bath Springs, Mt Lebanon and Bob’s Landing. These centers accept residential waste and recycling during posted hours; commercial vehicles and certain wastes such as liquid hazardous materials and radioactive materials are not accepted.

The county’s departments page acts as a single-stop reference for emergency contacts, volunteer fire and rescue organization names, convenience-center locations and health-department details. For operational updates or contact changes, residents can contact the County Mayor’s office at 731-852-2131.

The takeaway? Keep the non-emergency and County Mayor numbers handy, know the nearest station serving your road or holler, and double-check posted convenience-center rules before you haul—those details can save time and avoid unexpected fees.