Franklin, TN – The Franklin Fire Department announces the retirement of Engineer Wylie Jones, who will retire with 26 years of service after concluding his final 24-hour shift at 6 AM on Sunday.

A Franklin native known for making people laugh and telling “dad jokes,” Jones joined the FFD in 2000. He was promoted to the rank of engineer in 2013, and spent most of his career serving the downtown, Westhaven, and surrounding areas. He was part of the crew that opened Franklin Fire Station 8 in the Westhaven community in 2016 and has served there since.

Jones began his fire service career as a firefighter in the U.S. Air Force from 1996 to 2000. Upon returning home, he continued serving with the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 118th Wing in Nashville until 2017. During that time, he deployed to Al Dhafra, Curaçao, and Baghdad.

Throughout his career, Jones was actively involved in public outreach and education initiatives. He co-hosted “Franklin Heat,” a Franklin TV program that aired from 2013–2014. Watch an episode of the show here.

Jones earned numerous honors recognizing his service and commitment to patient care and the community during his tenure. He received a Phoenix Award on August 5, 2021, for his role in saving the life of a patient who experienced cardiac arrest while operating a track hoe. Crews performed a technical rescue to access and extricate the patient before resuscitation could begin. The incident was also recognized at the state level with a Star of Life Award. He was named Engineer of the Year in 2020. In 2023, Jones was among a group of firefighters who received an Exemplary Service Award for providing lifesaving medical care. He also received a Community Service Award in 2015 for his contributions to a project benefiting Williamson County Court Appointed Special Advocates, which raised $40,000 to support children in need.

Jones’ career also included moments that underscored the risks inherent in the profession. In 2010, he was seriously injured in a house fire following an explosion. Just before losing consciousness, he believed he would not survive, but he was rescued by fellow firefighters and ultimately made a full recovery. The firefighters who rescued him, Captain Tom Chaffin (Ret.) and Lieutenant-Paramedic Kris Bull, were awarded the Medal of Valor.

Jones described the near-miss incident, which could have easily resulted in a line-of-duty death, as a turning point in his career. It later became a powerful training example within the department, reinforcing lessons on firefighter safety and resilience. On the 10th anniversary, the department produced a training video commemorating the event. Watch the training video here.

Fire Chief Glenn Johnson said, “Wylie has been a steady presence in our department for over two and a half decades. He’s never met a stranger, never hesitated to share a story, and always knew how to get a laugh out of the crew with his dad jokes. But behind that outgoing personality is a dependable engineer who always did the work and took great care of our citizens. We’re going to miss his voice in the firehouse.”

As he steps away from the fire service, Jones leaves behind a legacy defined by dedication, resilience, and the ability to bring lightheartedness to even the most demanding situations. “I’m excited,” Jones said. “My life has been shift work and deployments since I was 19. I’m looking forward to a different pace and more time at home.”

Wylie and his wife, Angie, live in Columbia. They have two children, Amanda and Daniel, and three grandchildren, with two more on the way.

In addition to fighting fires, Jones is an avid fan of ghost stories, both reading and writing them. He has self-published several short stories on Amazon under the name S.W. Jones.

Upon retirement, he looks forward to spending more time with his family, continuing his writing, and, as he puts it, “finally getting a full night of sleep.” Jones said, “Having a regular sleep schedule for once is something I’m really looking forward to.” He added, “I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work here and to serve this community.”

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