The Chattanooga Fire Department is saddened to announce the death of Retired Fire Chief Joe Knowles. He passed away Monday morning (4/20/26) at the age of 93, surrounded by family.
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Chief Knowles became Chattanooga’s fire chief in 1976 during a period of growth and modernization. The new administration building, training center, and several new stations were built due to more annexation as the city continued to grow. Station 10 moved to the Amnicola Highway area, and the newly annexed areas received firehouses in Lookout Valley, East Brainerd, and on Dayton Boulevard. The 911 system was completed in 1981, and allowed dispatchers to further help in locating emergencies.
By 1979, the EMS division had twelve paramedics, and the department had received permission from the FCC to add a frequency used exclusively by the CFD. This allowed twenty-four hour contact with key personnel. Thirty-two handheld radios were placed into service. Additionally, the first female firefighter, Gail Aslinger, was hired on March 25,1983. She was followed the next year by Marilyn Henry who later became the first female Captain in the department.
Chief Knowles served as chief until 1984. He was critically injured in a wreck on his way to work and in a serendipitous turn of events, he was provided aid on the scene from a woman who had received training on basic life-saving techniques from Chief Knowles in the past. He was unconscious for 41 days following the accident, but after a long recovery, he returned to work before retiring. The incident was featured on Paul Harvey's “The Rest of the Story,” which aired on over 1,200 ABC radio network stations and the American Forces Radio Network worldwide.
The Chattanooga Police & Fire Training Center on Amnicola Highway is dedicated to Chief Knowles. Every police officer and firefighter who works for the city (both new and current) receives training at this facility. Regional training is also held there. “This facility will insure the citizens of this community the continued service of one of the best trained fire departments in the South,” Chief Knowles wrote back then.
Funeral services for Retired Fire Chief Joe Knowles are pending.
“Joe Knowles comes from a family dedicated to public service and we are grateful for the leadership he provided as fire chief,” stated current Chattanooga Fire Chief Terry Knowles (no relation). “We honor his dedication to moving the fire department forward and we hope his family knows that every firefighter and police officer carries on his legacy when they step through the doors of our training center.”