A retired district fire chief has died, Montgomery Fire/Rescue announced Thursday.
MFR joins the family of T.L. Bryant in mourning his death while also celebrating his life. The station reports Bryant served Montgomery from October 1974 to July 1995, serving as a dispatcher, firefighter, and a paramedic over the course of his career. He was assigned as the Commander of the EMS Division in 1983 and became the first District Fire Chief of the Medic Division when the position was created in 1986. MFR said Bryant affected many firefighters through mentoring, friendship and leadership, and he is lauded for helping build the foundation of MFR’s EMS division. Bryant is said to have realized early on that EMS would continue to become a large part of the fire service industry. For comparison, MFR offered statistics: in 1986, units responded to 11,715 EMS calls; in 2018, that number tripled to 34,939.
WSFA-TV NBC 12 Montgomery
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As one of the fastest growing cities in Alabama, Chelsea is expanding its emergency services to include a new fire station, Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer said.
Chelsea Fire and Rescue Station 33 will be located on Shelby County 51 near U.S. 280.
Fire Marshall Tommy King said the new fire station will help cut down the response time and help them keep up with the demand of calls as the area continues to grow.
King said on good day when personnel are in the house, their response time to the Chelsea Park neighborhood and the east part of the town takes eight to 10 minutes.
"The importance of minutes is great. Seconds count in anything, whether it's a house fire or whether it's someone having a medical emergency, seconds always count," said King.
That's why a two-story, 8,000 square feet building along Highway 51 will be the new Chelsea Fire and Rescue Station on the east side of town.
WIAT-TV 42 News
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A Montgomery Fire/Rescue firefighter suffered a minor burn while battling a blaze at a Montgomery home.
According to MFR Capt. Jason Cupps, units responded to the home in the 1500 block of Marlowe Dr. and reported seeing heavy smoke and flames. The fire was concentrated in the kitchen, and crews made an aggressive attack.
Cupps said two teenage boys were in the house at the time of the fire but had safely exited before MFR’s arrival. They were not injured. The firefighter who was burned was treated at the scene.
Cupps said the cause of the flames will be investigated once the structure is cleared and secured.
WSFA-TV NBC 12 Montgomery
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A spokesperson with the city of Athens, Holly Hollman, says Athens Fire and Rescue responded to a call on Thursday at 6:41 p.m. that a man possibly doused himself with fuel before setting himself on fire at Walmart.
According to Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson, bystanders told officers the man doused himself with gasoline, ran into Walmart, came back out into the parking lot and set himself on fire.
Hollman says responders found the man outside on the northeast side of Walmart. According to Athens Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Toby Carter, when firefighters arrived, four Athens police officers were using fire extinguishers from their vehicles to put the fire out.
Athens Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Toby Carter said responders have transported the man to Athens-Limestone Hospital's emergency room for treatment until a helicopter is available for medical transport. He does not know where the man will be transported.
WAAY-TV ABC 31 Huntsville
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Montgomery Fire/Rescue units battled their fourth fire in under 24 hours Thursday. This time, MFR Capt. Jason Cupps said lightning may have been the cause.
Crews responded to the 2600 block of Whispering Pine Drive where they found a structure fire. Firefighters found heavy smoke coming from both gable ends, Cupps said, and performed a rapid interior attack.
Cupps said there was fire damage to the attic and moderate water damage throughout the structure. There were no injuries to firefighters or people.
The fire remains under investigation.
The captain said Engine 12 and Truck 43 from the Norman Bridge Road station has worked three out of the four fires.
WSFA-TV NBC 12 Montgomery
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Sirens are what you expect to come from a fire station, but not from Huntsville’s Fire Station 1, especially on Wednesday nights.
That's when passersby stop along Clinton Avenue to listen to the strains from bagpipes.
Bagpipes? Yes, several of them.
They are all part of a new clan in town: the Huntsville Fire and Rescue Pipe and Drum band. It’s only one in the state of Alabama.
Some of these firefighters drive the engines, others are hazmat specialists. All of them are on fire about this chance to play the bagpipes.
They owe their proficiency to pro-piper Roque Haines, who donates countless hours each week teaching these men and women all the basics. In nine months, he’s come pretty far, since emergencies like car accidents, drug overdoses and fires come up when duty calls.
WAFF-TV NBC 48 Huntsville
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