Pell City Fire Captain gets special ride home after COVID-19 battle

One local man got a special ride home from the hospital today. That man is Pell City Fire Captain Jeff Rogers. Rogers was discharged from UAB-West today after a two-month battle with COVID-19. His department surprised him as he left the hospital by giving him a ride home on his fire engine. The Pell City Fire Department used their Facebook page to thank the hospital staff for taking care of their co-worker and friend, and to thank the Bessemer Fire Department for their support as he left the hospital.
WBMA-LD ABC 33/40 Birmingham

Woman charged in arson at neighbor’s Montgomery home

A woman has been charged with arson after court records say she admitted to starting a fire at her neighbor’s home. Starr Jackson, 37, is charged with arson first degree. Court records say the charges are related to an incident that took place Monday at a residence in the area of Meadow Lane in Montgomery. Firefighters were called to the scene after a report of a house fire. When they arrived, they found damage to the wood siding of the home from a fire. According to the affidavit, Jackson is accused of lighting several molotov cocktails and throwing them at her neighbor’s home. Jackson told investigators the homeowners were harassing her and throwing items over her fence. On Monday, Jackson said several bottles filled with gasoline and tissue paper were thrown over her fence.
WSFA-TV NBC 12 Montgomery

FEMA to help fund residential storm shelters in Geneva County

Geneva County is scheduled to receive a total of $112 thousand dollars. Under the plan, FEMA pays 75 percent of the shelter expense. The homeowner must pay a 25 percent local match. Smith says there’s a half-dozen companies that manufacture these shelters, and the cost varies according to size and other features. Over the years, Smith says tornadoes have caused millions of dollars and property damage, and has claimed lives here in the wiregrass. Those Geneva Countians that are interested in receiving FEMA financial assistance to install a residential storm shelter, a sign-up meeting takes place next Monday night at 6 p.m., at the Geneva County Farm Center.
WDHN-TV ABC 18 Dothan

Fire damages Saraland restaurant

VIDEO: A fire damages a popular chain restaurant in Saraland. Viewer Penny Honodel sent us this video. The fire was called in just before 1:00 o’clock Monday morning at Ruby Tuesday’s. Saraland Fire Chief Jeff Ludlam said firefighters arrived to find smoke and flames coming from the rear of the building near the kitchen. No one was there at the time. No one was hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
WKRG-TV CBS 5 Mobile

Cahaba Valley Fire District looks toward future in Shelby County

Plans to implement the Cahaba Valley Fire District’s 2020-25 Strategic Plan are now on hold following a special election vote at the end of August. The plan was created after a 2019 survey in which residents in the district were invited to share their thoughts and ideas for the future. After the results were in, a strategic planning committee was created to consolidate and evaluate the surveys. The proposed two-step increase would have taken place over two years and increased fire dues by a total of 75% from their current rate. Year 1 (fiscal 2022) would have a 35% increase, followed by a 30% increase in year 2 (fiscal 2023). This would have allowed the department to increase its current budget from about $3,600,000 to $5,800,000. “What it boils down to is around a 65-70% increase overall, but it would have accomplished everything we needed to accomplish,” CVFD Fire Chief Buddy Wilks said.
280 Living

Injured person rescued 7 hours after falling in Jackson County cave

Several first responders spent about seven hours this weekend working to get an injured person out of a Jackson County cave. According to Scottsboro-Jackson County Rescue Squad, crews responded to a call of an injured person trapped at Tumbling Rock Cave Saturday. Tumbling Rock Cave Preserve, in Fackler, is a cave system about six miles long. The injured person was about one mile into the cave. The victim’s name and condition were not released in an announcement of the incident. Assisting in the rescue was the Huntsville Cave Unit, Hamilton County Rescue Squad, Highland Ambulance, Jackson County Sherriff’s Office and Hollywood Fire Dept. “Without all the assistance this type of rescue would be impossible,” the rescue squad said.
AL.com