In the Spotlight: Scott Burgess

When he’s not directing day-to-day operations of his fire station in Nashville, Tennessee, Scott Burgess can often be found on the CDP campus, teaching one of the center’s advanced hazardous materials courses.

In his eight years as an instructor, he’s been able to share more than a handful of real-life experiences with students. Those experiences include responding to hundreds of calls after tornados and floods swept through the city and being the first senior officer on the scene of the massive bombing of its business district on Christmas Day of 2020.

While he says no two are exactly alike, Burgess believes responders should approach all incidents the same.

“It’s all about gaining quick situational awareness and staying calm,” he says.