CRESTON — Meet TommeAnn Harless of the Creston Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department. TommeAnn was born in Fort Hood, Texas, but now resides in Creston and has been a resident of Ashe County for the past 28 years. She has three children, Olivia, 37, Oriana, 33 and Orin, 30 and a total of nine grandchildren. TommeAnn has been a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical responder with Creston VFRD for three years. She received her first responder training through the Creston VFD.
TommeAnn became a volunteer after she experienced a fire in her own home in October 2020. Before becoming a first responder, TommeAnn’s wood burning stove caught fire and she had the wherewithal to extinguish the fire in the stove but the fire had already spread to the chimney. Three local departments, Pond Mountain, Creston and Warrensville fire departments were dispatched and able to save her chimney and home. After the fire, the chief of Creston VFRD asked her to join the department and she wanted to give back to the Ashe County community so this was the opportunity she was looking for.