Officials with the U.S. National Hurricane Center said Wednesday they are anticipating the system to strike the Gulf Coast as a hurricane.

Irondale Fire Chief Josh McDaniels is president of the Alabama association of Fire chiefs. He said agencies that are part of the association contribute to a mutual aid consortium, where they dedicate resources and contacts that can be used in any event where there’s widespread damage, such as a hurricane.

Right now, he said they’re closely watching each new update on the system to fine tune their plan in order to make deploying any resources as quick and as easy as possible.

“We start prepping for those events, we have departments and resources that are on standby, we rotate it every month, everybody knows when their department or resource that they’ve dedicated to the consortium is up to respond,” Chief McDaniels said. “We make sure they’re good and ready to go.”

WBRC-TV FOX 6 Birmingham

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Anniston Fire Chief Johnnie Phelps said the aging fleet was costing a lot of money to keep on the road and it was time to upgrade.

“The safety from our personnel, safety for citizens was at the point of being compromised and the upgrade of this fleet fixes a lot of issues with our budget. It’s an initial upfront investment, but I think over the years it’s going to save a lot of money in the long run,” Phelps said.

Engine One Lt. Terry Cantrell helped design the trucks, a process that took four years. He said making the trucks more functional for firefighters was key.

“We don’t have to limit ourselves anymore on what we carry so, that’s been a big help. On top of that, with that extra storage we still get to carry a thousand gallons of tank water which is really good for us in our rural areas,” Cantrell said.

Phelps said the new trucks are safer, faster and stocked with new warning systems and equipment to make his firefighters’ jobs easier.

WBRC-TV FOX 6 Birmingham

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“Confidence building is just getting us really comfortable in that hot environment, and it’s learning how to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” said Kayla Bethel.

Bethel is a recruit with Daphne Fire Department.

She and the other recruits from several departments are pushing the limits.

“The mental strain is the worst part by far. The physical stuff, that’s one thing. But they’re putting us through these mental tests, like in the rat maze. In there, we’re in confined spaces and trying to get out of tight spaces. That’s the worst thing for me so far. It’s terrible,” said Mobile Fire Rescue recruit Hayden Richardson.

WKRG-TV CBS 5 Mobile

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Huntsville Fire and Rescue said 11 fire units responded to the complex on SW Meadowbrook Drive, just off Memorial Parkway, shortly after 1:00 a.m. after receiving several calls about a fire coming from one of the buildings.

The fire affected a building with 16 units, according to Huntsville Fire and Rescue.

Eyewitness video shows flames shooting through the roof of the two-story building as firefighters worked to bring the fire under control.

Crews began fire suppression operations and were able to knock down the fire. After confirming no one was inside the affected units, firefighters transitioned to a defensive operation because of concerns about the building’s structural integrity.

WZDX-TV FOX/MyNetworkTV 54 Huntsville

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In an official statement issued Monday, the city said it is offering its support to the church’s congregation as members begin the recovery process.

The city also expressed appreciation to Hanceville Fire & Rescue and responding departments from Garden City, Walter, Berlin, Good Hope, Johnson’s Crossing and the City of Cullman for their assistance at the scene. The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office also responded.

The cause of the fire has not been released. City officials said they will not comment or speculate on the cause while the investigation remains ongoing.

WBMA-LD ABC 33/40 Birmingham

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The fire was reported southeast of the crossing of Ohatchee Creek and Coffee Creek. The Alabama Forestry Commission will continue monitoring the affected area as officials assess conditions following the fire.

The Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency said protecting Alabama’s forests and the people who depend on them remains a top priority.

Officials have not reported any immediate threat to homes associated with the Calhoun County wildfire. Residents in the area are encouraged to remain aware of updates from local emergency management and firefighting agencies as monitoring continues.

A separate wildfire is also being managed in Shelby County at Oak Mountain State Park.

As of Thursday morning, Oct. 1, firefighters had maintained fire lines overnight. The fire had burned an estimated 250 acres and was reported to be 50% contained, with no homes considered to be in danger at that time.

WBMA-LD ABC 33/40 Birmingham

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Officials said the brushfire began Friday before re-sparking Saturday afternoon.

According to West Jefferson Fire, the brushfire had burned more than 200 acres.

At the scene, WBRC saw a partial closure of Flat Top Road near I-22 in the Graysville and Adamsville area due to the brushfire.

“We contained it last night (Friday), but the change in the winds today (Saturday) it has moved back towards flat top so now forestry is out here cutting a line around it so hopefully we got it under control,” said West Jefferson Fire Chief James Nix.

The brushfire had sent smoke into the air that could be seen from Red Mountain.

WBRC-TV FOX 6 Birmingham

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Here is the post from Seven Hills Fire District with Medstar-Lifeguard AirCare and Mobile County EMS:

“Last night (Thursday night) around 9:00 pm, Seven Hills and County EMS were dispatched to Fred Freeland Rd for an overturned vehicle w/ entrapment.

County’s Critical Care Paramedic Unit also responded. Crews arrived on scene to one patient partially trapped inside and under a vehicle. Due to location and mechanism of injury, AirCare was launched for a scene landing.

Due to Patient’s position under the vehicle, a pneumatic lift system was set up.”

WALA-TV FOX 10 Mobile

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The derailment involving a Norfolk Southern train was reported near Highway 22 and Railroad Street.

According to Chilton County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) officials, the train was hauling garbage, resulting in debris and material scattered around the area.

Norfolk Southern’s initial assessment indicates approximately 8 railcars derailed. Officials said there are no reported injuries.

The EMA is assisting Norfolk Southern with recovery efforts. Officials said the response is expected to be lengthy, with multiple agencies working at the scene to maintain safety and coordinate the removal of the remaining rail cars.

WBMA-LD ABC 33/40 Birmingham

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The technology is designed to provide additional visibility into fire activity, helping forestry officials identify potential escapes from prescribed burns, assess incidents and determine where and when a response is needed.

“Adopting the latest technology helps us detect and respond to wildfires more efficiently while improving safety for our firefighters and the people of Alabama,” said Alabama State Forester Rick Oates.

“OroraTech gives us another tool to help protect lives, property, and Alabama’s forest resources.”

AFC Protection Division Director John Goff said the technology represents the latest development in a long evolution of wildfire detection.

Fire & Safety Journal Americas

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According to West Blount Fire District Chief Clay Jones, crews were responding to a separate motor vehicle accident on Interstate 65 near mile marker 287 when a motorist struck a fire truck positioned at the scene.

Jones said the department’s apparatus had been positioned across two lanes as a protective measure for firefighters, patients and other emergency personnel working at the original crash.

The collision caused significant damage to both the fire truck and the civilian vehicle. No injuries were reported in that crash.

In a separate incident Tuesday, a West Blount firefighter was driving a rescue vehicle when it was struck from behind while stopped and waiting to make a turn, according to Jones. The impact sent the rescue vehicle off the roadway and into a nearby field.

WBMA-LD ABC 33/40 Birmingham

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The lessons started in the classroom with lectures on ladders and ventilation, but later in the week, the recruits got to put the lecture to work.

“They’re hands-on now. [They’re] working a roof prop, ventilating, throwing ladders, climbing ladders, doing victim-assist rescues with ladders,” Mobile Fire Rescue Cpt. Jonathon Lyles said.

Fire recruits from seven different stations in Mobile and Baldwin Counties are now in week three of training, and the tasks are getting a little more difficult.

News 5’s Clancy Callahan was on the training grounds where recruits were hanging out two story windows, climbing down ladders carrying a dummy body, dragging hoses behind them as they scaled the burn tower and more. The ladder is sturdy, but very shaky.

“Once they’ve climbed a couple of times, once they’ve gotten their hands on it, nerves come down, confidence starts to come up,” Cpt. Lyles said.

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