Firefighters respond to apartment fire in Birmingham

Firefighters responded to an apartment fire in Birmingham Wednesday afternoon. Birmingham Fire and Rescue said the incident happened just before 6:00 p.m. at Twin Oaks Apartments in the 7700 block of 4th Avenue South. When firefighters arrived they said heavy smoke was coming from a bottom apartment. The fire department helped a disabled man off the second floor and a second man as well. Three units were damaged and a fourth was being checked. A mother and child were displaced and the disabled man was displaced. Help from the Red Cross was requested. The fire department said there were no injuries.
WBMA-LD ABC 33/40 Birmingham

Increase in Moores Mill Volunteer Firefighter applicants shines light on funding challenges

In an effort to keep up with Madison County’s growing population, Moores Mill Volunteer Fire Rescue says within the last two months, close to 30 people have joined their ranks. The department says these are people who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way without monetary compensation. “The fear is these men and women are signing up to do something really great for their community, and the burden is on us as a fire department to provide them the things they need to do the function of that job,” Moores Mill Volunteer Fire Rescue Spokesperson Ethan Fitzgerald stated. Fitzgerald says that’s where it gets challenging. More firefighters call for new out-fitting equipment, and that’s money Fitzgerald says they don’t have due to their tax funding structure, which hasn’t changed in over 30 years.
WHNT-TV CBS 19 Huntsville

Homewood city council approves new fire chief

VIDEO: After several months of searching, the city of Homewood finally has a new fire chief. The city council made an official announcement Monday night, promoting long time fire fighter Brandon Broadhead. Broadhead says he’s looking forward to continuing to be in the Homewood community. He says working in Homewood has always been a goal of his and he looks forward to continuing to serve it’s citizens like he’s been doing the last 16 years. New Homewood Fire Chief Brandon Broadhead says leadership starts at the top. Broadhead picks up the torch after former Chief Nick Hill’s retirement in December. “I believe in the inverted pyramid style of leadership. Which is basically the leadership pyramid where the chief is at the top and firefighters and the customers are at the bottom and you turn it upside down. The chiefs job is to make sure that my senior officers have what they need to do their job,” says Broadhead.
WBRC-TV FOX 6 Birmingham

Fire destroys business in Baldwin County

Stapleton Fire Department, Bay Minette FD, Whitehouse Forks FD and Lottie FD all responded to a large fire at the Industrial Fiberglass Specialty on Pine Road South on Wednesday morning. The large fire broke out at the fiberglass plant, around half a mile off County Road 39, around 4 A.M. The fire burned the building to the ground. Firefighters continue to monitor and put out hot spots. Smoke continues to fill the area. No one was injured. The owner spoke to WKRG and didn’t want to be on camera but looked at the wreckage and said, “30 years in smoke.” The cause is under investigation.
WKRG-TV CBS 5 Mobile