Alabaster adds several police and fire positions for safety and better emergency response

More protection and emergency response is coming to the city of Alabaster. Alabaster city leaders say that public safety is a top priority which is why they are adding several police and fire positions. City leaders explained that 10 positions will go to the fire department for their new emergency management services and three positions will open up immediately for the police department. Monday night, city leaders approved 9 new firefighter and paramedic positions for the fire department’s ambulance services along with a new captain position. Alabaster City Administrator Brian Binzer said, “The first step was to at least create positions to kind of start that process.” Binzer explained that this is a process the city is working on alongside Pelham, Calera, Helena and the county to provide more efficient emergency response for citizens.
WBRC-TV FOX 6 Birmingham

Gulf Shores Fire Rescue getting new training facility and more

The Gulf Shores Fire Department is getting a new 4.5-acre training facility. Currently, firefighters at Gulf Shores Fire Rescue are using neighboring facilities to train and even building their tools and courses to train within their station’s parking lot. Fire Chief Mark Sealy said they are thrilled to get this new $1.2 million facility. “It’ll have a couple of burn towers,” Sealy said. “It’ll have a couple of different props that we will build into it going forward, but we are so excited about it.” Classrooms and other props will be a part of the facility as well. The facility will be located near West 36th Avenue in Gulf Shores. Chief Sealy said construction is set to begin shortly, and the facility is estimated to be completed by summer 2024.
WKRG-TV CBS 5 Mobile

Statewide Fire Alert remains in effect as dry conditions persist

The State of Alabama remains under a statewide Fire Alert, which could be extended for an indefinite amount of time. The Alabama Forestry Commission issued the alert Friday because of dry and windy conditions that can increase the risk of fires spreading out of control. In the last two weeks this month, the state has seen nearly 100 wildfires, consuming about 1,000 acres of land. That number is getting closer to the 127 wildfires the state saw all of last September, according to Balsie Butler, the Alabama Forestry Commission’s Protection Division Assistant Director. “We’re well ahead of where we were this time last year,” Butler said. Butler says this summer’s high temperatures and little rain recently have left the soil dry and the conditions right for wildfires.
WIAT-TV CBS 42 Birmingham