KARNS, Tenn. — The Karns community is getting a major public safety upgrade with the opening of a new fire department headquarters built to accommodate growth.

The Karns Fire Department serves more than 45,000 residents across nearly 52 square miles, and officials say the call volume is rising along with the population.

“Even five years ago, I would have never imagined us getting to this point today,” Fire Chief Herman Lathers said. “It’s a big facility, a little too big for us right now, but why plan for something that you need immediately when it limits your future growth down the road?”

The new headquarters features the department’s first-ever training tower, allowing firefighters to practice realistic scenarios such as structural collapses and confined space rescues.

“It’s been yea

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