Hawkins Education Board Discusses Clinch School Fire Safety

Proposed partnership with fire department to improve water access and emergency response capabilities.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Hawkins County Board of Education expressed interest in partnering with the Clinch Valley Volunteer Fire Department to address fire safety concerns at Clinch School. The fire department highlighted the school's lack of usable water, which could only sustain a fire for around 4 minutes. To improve emergency response, the fire department proposed leasing land near the school to build a facility with 9,500 gallons of water storage. The education board and county would split the estimated $57,000 construction cost, while the fire department would handle ongoing operations and maintenance.

Why it matters

Clinch School is located in a growing area of Hawkins County, Tennessee, where the infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth. This partnership aims to enhance public safety and fire protection for the school and surrounding community by improving water access and emergency response capabilities.

The details

The Clinch Valley Volunteer Fire Department's largest water tank holds only 1,000 gallons, which could fight a fire at Clinch School for just 4 minutes. While the school has a well system, it is too fragile to use for firefighting. The fire department has been pursuing utility-supplied water, but that could take years. To address this, the department proposed leasing a 50-60 square foot property near the school's west entrance to build a facility with 9,500 gallons of water storage. The education board and county would split the estimated $57,000 construction cost, while the fire department would handle site preparation, security, insurance, electricity, and ongoing maintenance.

  • The Hawkins County Board of Education discussed the fire safety partnership at its meeting on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.
  • The Clinch Valley VFD will host a town hall on February 19, 2026 at 6 p.m. at Clinch School to discuss utility water access and more.

The players

Hawkins County Board of Education

The local school board responsible for overseeing public education in Hawkins County, Tennessee.

Clinch Valley Volunteer Fire Department

The volunteer fire department serving the Clinch School area in Hawkins County, Tennessee.

Chris Christian

The chair of the Hawkins County Board of Education.

Matt Hixson

The director of schools for Hawkins County.

Bob Larkins

A member of the Hawkins County Board of Education.

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What they’re saying

“Our county is growing. We've seen a lot of people move in, and the area that's impacting us the most with families is the Clinch area. And the infrastructure is not such that it's safe, at this point. We have an opportunity to not only be good neighbors, but to be safer in being good neighbors and help out with this project.”

— Matt Hixson, Director of Schools (timesnews.net)

“This was a fantastic suggestion that's been needed for a long time.”

— Chris Christian, Board Chair (timesnews.net)

What’s next

The education board and fire department agreed to schedule another meeting to discuss the fire safety partnership proposal in more detail.

The takeaway

This proposed partnership between the Hawkins County Board of Education and Clinch Valley Volunteer Fire Department highlights the need to invest in public safety infrastructure, especially in growing communities, to ensure schools and residents have adequate emergency response capabilities.