The Chattanooga Fire Department and the Hamilton County Coalition’s Nu-Start program have partnered to launch the “Safe Stations” initiative in Chattanooga. “Safe Stations” make all fire stations within Chattanooga 24-hour havens, where anyone struggling with opioid addiction can be connected to treatment and recovery options.

At any time during the day or night when the victim of addiction decides or gathers up the courage to ask for help, he or she can go to any Safe Station and speak to the firefighters on duty. The firefighters will arrange for or provide a medical assessment — not to exceed their scope of training. If there is cause for concern that there is something else medically or psychiatrically wrong with the patient, transportation to an appropriate level medical facility will be arranged for and provided by the station. If there is not a medical or psychiatric concern, the individual will either be picked up by a Nu-Start team member or transported to a respite facility until proper care arrives.

See a map of the Safe Stations Across Hamilton County Below: