Bruce Cureton

Bruce Cureton, who served for 15 years as fire chief of the Knoxville Fire Department, died March 14, 2024 at the age of 81. Cureton served as chief from 1982 to 1997, retiring after 30 years in the fire service. Cureton was a lifetime member of the International Fire Chiefs Association. During his tenure as chief, the Knoxville Fire Department hired its first female firefighters, developed the new 911 system, and replaced 96% of the city’s firefighting equipment. In addition to his work at KFD, Cureton also served in the Tennessee Air National Guard.