Whitwell resort owners honor firefighters who saved their property

WHITWELL, Tenn. (WDEF) – Facing the destruction of your property and business can create a sense of unease.

That was the reality for a Marion County mountaintop resort last month.

On the evening on November 19, staff at the Bolt Farm Treehouse Resort spotted wildfire smoke just beneath their property.

This prompted the response of numerous volunteer firefighters, who resort owners, husband and wife Seth and Tori Bolt, wanted to give back to today. 

Bolt Farm Treehouse Resort Owners Seth and Tori Bolt along with staff honoring volunteer firefighters in Marion County by donating drones to their departments.

Seth Bolt said, “Going to sleep, actually didn’t really sleep. But putting my head on the pillow at 6 a.m. after fighting the fire the whole night like I knew waking up there was a chance that this would be just a scorched earth kind of scenario.”

After surviving what would have been the end of the Bolt Farm Treehouse Resort, the Bolts wanted to give back to the volunteer firefighters who saved their property.

Tori Bolt said, “I am the daughter of a firefighter. My dad was a firefighter for over 30 years, and so I know first hand how much they lay on the line.”

They honored several of the firefighters and their departments on Tuesday in a ceremony overlooking the Sequatchie Valley from their resort.

The firefighters who were there to help save the resort recounted the difficulties of encountering the wildfire.

Will Adams of West Valley Volunteer Fire Department said, “We had a lot to deal with that night, and that day, because with the terrain being so rough it was hard on our departments trying to get to it. It was hard for the Forestry Department. There was actually no way to get to it.”

Seth Bolt had one device on him that helped out firefighters during the blaze, a drone he had purchased to take pictures of the resort for social media.

He said, “I just heard from them how helpful it is to be able to actually see and monitor the fires, especially in these areas where the ground is not level, and to see what was happening on the fire lines. They would typically have to send someone in on foot which could be dangerous.”

This is why as a token of gratitude, the Bolts have donated drones to six separate volunteer fire departments.

Firefighters say their use will go beyond just fighting wildfires.

Charlie McEntrye of Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department said, “Even on structure fires, if it is a big structure fire, being able to see how things look from 360 degrees will be a benefit.”

The Bolts say the work of these firefighters means everything to them and their team.

Seth Bolt said, “This is our dream. Building a place where people can come and reconnect and be well and be surrounded by beauty in nature.”

Miraculously, none of the property was damaged due to the fires.

The Bolts say the work of the firefighters saved 34 jobs and millions in tax revenue for Marion County.