PHOTO SUBMITTED

The Whaley family is pictured above during this past Christmas. Matthew, left, sits with his
wife, Laura, and their two children. Aiden, sitting with Matthew, is celebrating his fourth
birthday Monday, Feb. 8. His younger brother Tucker, sitting with Laura, is 2 years old.

NEWPORT-An early morning structure fire claimed the home of Matthew Whaley and his family on Monday, Feb. 1.

Whaley, an employee of Cocke County Emergency Dispatch since 2002, received a call at approximately 3:50 a.m. The woman's voice came across saying her home was on fire. Whaley asked her name.

Repeatedly, the woman said, "It's me, it's me." Whaley then realized it was his wife, Laura, who was making the emergency call from her cell phone as she was putting their two small children, Aiden and Tucker, in the car.

Whaley made sure his wife and children were uninjured as he assured Laura emergency crews were on the way then ending the call with, "I love you."

Dispatch paged Cocke County Fire Department and Centerview Volunteer Fire Department crews to the scene of the Bear Creek Road home. Whaley gave the physical address of the home along with step-by-step directions for the best, fastest way to get there.

"When reviewing the call, I am amazed at the amount of professionalism Matthew displayed under the circumstances," said Kathy Cody, director of the county E-911 dispatch. "He was calm and never once said, 'Hey, that's my home'."

According to Cody, Whaley stayed to finish his work shift, which ended at 5 a.m.

Emergency crew members determined the home and all possessions are a complete loss. The blaze is believed to have sparked in the kitchen area. An investigation is under way as an electrical malfunction is a possible cause for the fire.

"Members [at the dispatch office] know him and can tell in his voice on the tapes he was upset," said Cody, "but he stayed calm and collected as he did his job."

Several county department members brought donations for the Whaley family to the dispatch office Wednesday. No donation collections have been prepared at this time.