Cahaba Valley Fire and EMR District

A-shift crews preformed this months assigned 1410 Drill; flowing a Master Stream. The crews stretched 300 ft of 5inch hose and flowed water from the deck gun, within a 3min time limit. Master streams are used to apply larger amounts of water quickly in events of large/heavy fire.

Have a safe and wonderful Independence Day!

Two of our new hirers are preparing to attend Recruit School, so the crews today worked with them on bunker gear drills. Today’s goal was all gear and air pack on ready to go in 2 minute’s.

B shift opted for a little rain over this summer heat to knock out “1410 drills” today. Today’s task 400ft and 250ft hand line stretches.

This week, B-shift crews spent time on booster backup drills. “Booster backup” in the simple explanation is the second engine to the call goes straight to the fire where the first engine is located and gives them all their water.

Cahaba Valley units assisted Vandiver Fire today with a single vehicle MVC involving a motorcycle. Due to the patient’s injuries they were airlifted to UAB by Lifesaver 4. Our thoughts are with the patient and their family.

Your FY2025 Billing Statements/Invoices for Fire District Service Fees on residential properties have been sent via USPS. They may arrive in your mailbox as early as Friday, June 7, 2024. The billing statements/invoices for commercial and other properties are expected to be sent out in the next few weeks. The FD Service Fees are due upon receipt and become delinquent after September 30, 2024. As a reminder, before making a payment, please check with your mortgage company to determine if your FD Service Fees are covered by your mortgage company's escrow.

For any inquiries about your FY2025 statements, please contact our Business Office at [email protected] or call 205-991-5266.

For additional information on FD Service Fees, please visit https://www.cahabavalleyfire.org/fire-dues/

B shift crews got the opportunity to meet and greet with one of the crews from Survival Flight today. We were able to ask important and critical questions regarding expectations and safety in the event of needing their services.

In Memory of Firefighter Albert Tinney IV,
It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the sudden and tragic loss of Firefighter/Paramedic Albert Tinney IV, on May 29th, 2024. Albert served with dedication, bravery, and an unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our community.
Albert joined Center Point Fire District on July 18, 2021, and has been a valued member ever since.
Over the years, he exemplified the true spirit of a firefighter-courageous, selfless, and always ready to serve.
As we mourn this tremendous loss, our thoughts and prayers are with Alberts's family, friends, and colleagues. We extend our deepest condolences and support to his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.
Rest in peace, Albert. You will never be forgotten, and your spirit will live on in the hearts of those you touched along the way of this path we call life. Rest easy our brother we will hold the line from here.

As you spend time with family and friends this long holiday weekend, please remember and honor those who have sacrificed for our freedom. Be safe and enjoy the weekend.

Units are on scene of an 18 wheeler overturned at the intersection of Hwy 280 and Doug Baker Blvd. units from North Shelby Fire Department and Hoover Fire Department are also on scene. The roadway will be shut down for an extended period of time.

The end of the school year is always fun for kids, especially those in Kindergarten at Mt Laurel Elementary School & PTO. Today, Station 183 C Shift had the honor helping with the annual tradition of creating an improvised splash pad for them to enjoy.

On May 10, 2024, the Alabama Fire College hosted the graduation ceremony for the 2023-2024 Class of the Alabama Public Safety Leadership Academy (APSLA). We are excited to congratulate the 28 graduates including Russ Bradley, Barry Casey, and Taylor Gunnels from Cahaba Valley. Over the past four years, six members of CVFD have completed the program.

The mission of the Alabama Public Safety Leadership Academy is to broaden and enhance the management and leadership skills of select members of Alabama’s public safety agencies through a directed program exposing members to key strategic elements relevant to public safety organizational success. To date, nearly 250 public safety professionals from across Alabama have graduated from APSLA.

Congratulations to Marissa Hays for earning her associate degree in Emergency Medical Services from Gadsden State Community College. She passed the National Registry exam earlier this week and is now waiting for her Paramedic license. Currently, Marissa is assigned to our Narrows Station (185) on B-Shift.

The crew at 181 working smarter not harder and adding a little ingenuity into the station duties today. It’s important to have pride in your “house” even when it involves scrubbing floors.

Thank you Wydemon Towing for donating two previously wrecked vehicles to the department allowing us to practice vehicle extrication and stabilization. The crews have been able to take advantage of training in a controlled learning environment.

B shift crews spent Tuesday morning conducting 1410 Drills - 1410 drills are NFPA code 1410 (Training for Initial Emergency Scene Operations) designed to give the department a training reference to improve their ability to complete initial attack operations. You may see the different shifts out practicing and conducting this drills. -Practice Makes Proficient

The annual ADEM ban on open burning is now in effect until October 31st. The ban is for the counties of Baldwin, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Russell, Shelby, and Talladega.

“Prohibiting the open burning of wood, tree trimmings, brush and debris generated by land clearing and construction, or demolition activities is an effective way to reduce the formation of ground-level ozone, which is formed when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides react in the presence of heat and sunlight,” said Ron Gore, the chief of ADEM’s Air Division.

www.adem.alabama.gov

Fire Chief Buddy Wilks and Deputy Chief John Yancey are part of an Alabama delegation attending the annual symposium of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) in Washington, DC this week. CFSI is designed to educate members of Congress about the needs and challenges of our nation’s fire and emergency services to help them understand how the federal government can support the needs of our local first responders.

181-A shift took advantage of the nice Saturday night weather to better prepare themselves for Technical Rescue skills involving the use of Truck 181.

Evan Garrett completed his Paramedic training as part of the Regional Training Institute’s inaugural class of 57 graduates on Friday evening. He began his career with Cahaba Valley in June 2022, after having worked at Birmingham FD, Rocky Ridge FD, and Lakeview FD. Evan is currently assigned to B Shift at our Narrows Station (185).

It is also worth noting, that Kirkland Smith and Trevor Hull, who are former members of CVFD, were part of the graduating class.

Fires are spreading faster nowadays due to the increased use of synthetic materials in construction and furniture inside our homes and businesses. This reduces the time we have to escape from a fire. Studies indicate that closing doors can help slow down the spread of fire. Additionally, working smoke detectors can provide an early warning of a fire, which increases the time we have to escape safely.

Earlier this month, Marissa Hays, a member of our team, was awarded the Ronny J. Coleman Fire & Emergency, Leader of the Future Scholarship from the International Public Safety Leadership & Ethics Institute. The scholarship is highly selective, with over 120 applicants nationwide competing for the award. The recipients were evaluated through a rigorous process, which included multiple evaluator reviews and two personal interviews. Marissa stood out for her exceptional qualities and potential to excel in the public safety field.

Marissa became a member of Cahaba Valley in December 2021. Since then, she completed recruit school and obtained multiple fire service-related certifications. Moreover, she was granted an Award of Valor for her exceptional performance. Currently, Marissa is on track to obtain her Paramedic license and associate degree by early May.

Congratulations on your achievements! We are thrilled to see what your future holds with Cahaba Valley.

Scholarship Announcement: https://www.ipslei.org/
Story Link: https://tinyurl.com/587xnc6s

A quick heads up for our communities. Oak Mountain State Park is scheduled to conduct a prescribed burn in part of the park on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Visible smoke and the smell of smoke is likely in our area. For more details, please see the OMSP informational post below.

‼️ Prescribed Burn at Oak Mountain State Park ‼️

Weather permitting, a prescribed burn has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 24th, at Oak Mountain State Park around the Campground Area. From approximately 7 AM to 5 PM on Wednesday, the Light Trail will be closed while the burn is active. The North Trailhead Parking lots will remain open.

The Alabama State Parks Division will conduct the prescribed burn and every effort will be made to ensure proper smoke management and safety of the surrounding areas during the burn period.

Prescribed fires are an important land management tool for many of the fire-dependent ecosystems and can help those ecosystems by:
🔥Improving habitats
🔥Increasing plant biodiversity by encouraging new growth of native plant species
🔥Reducing invasive species
🔥Minimizing the spread of pest/insect disease
🔥Recycling nutrients back into the soil.

➡️ Learn more about prescribed fires from our friends at the Alabama Forestry Commission by visiting the following link: https://forestry.alabama.gov/.../Prescribed_Burning.aspx

Zachary Bahr, who joined CVFD in September of 2023, recently passed National Registry for EMT. He is currently assigned to Station 181 on A Shift. Congratulations Zachary.

On Friday, April 12, Will McLendon graduated from the Alabama Fire College Recruit School in Tuscaloosa. Several of Will's coworkers were on hand to support him at graduation.

The Alabama Fire College Fire Fighter I/II course consists of ten high-paced weeks of classroom study, drill field practice, and training evolutions to prepare the firefighter to perform most fireground functions.

Will is currently assigned to HWY 280/Doug Baker Station (Station 181) on B Shift. Please join us in congratulating Will on this accomplishment.

Cahaba Valley Fire would like to say Thank You, to all the men and women at the Shelby County Telecommunications Center. We know that what your ears hear can leave both the positive and negative memories as what our eyes see. We could not do our jobs efficiently or effectively without you, and we recognize both your passion and sacrifice.

To those who are never seen… And only heard… Thank you!

We had a great time at the Mt Laurel Spring Festival today. Sparky was out and able to make some new friends. We love being able to interact with the community and share some important community risk and fire safety tips.