PIGEON FORGE â Fire Chief Tony Watson has returned to duty after serving a three-day, unpaid suspension for driving to the scene of a fire hours after having a mixed drink, in violation of city policy.
In an interview with The Mountain Press, Watson acknowledged that heâd had a single, regular-sized margarita at about 7:45 p.m. July 5, while he was at a restaurant with a guest.
The day had served as a holiday for Watson, because the Fourth of July fell on a Sunday. Watson said he was in bed shortly after 9 p.m. that day. Watson is an early riser, and following gastric bypass surgery several years ago he gets up before dawn to work out before going to work.