By Stephen Dawkins

A course hosted by the Jemison Fire Department will offer local volunteer firefighters the opportunity to become certified.
The 160-hour training course, taught by JFD Chief John Dennis, who is also an adjunct instructor with the Alabama Fire College, will put volunteers a five-week bridge program away from state certification.
“It’s the same thing they would be getting if they went to recruit school,” Dennis said about the course in Jemison. “Anybody can grab a hose, turn the water on and spray water on a fire. After this course, they’ll actually have an understanding of how fire behaves—be able to anticipate what’s going to happen next based on building layouts and save as much of the structure as possible.”
A representative from the state fire college registers participants for each block, stops by throughout to check on the material being taught and administers the written test at the end of each block.
The course was taught last year for the first time, and Dennis said he would like to make it an annual or every-other-year event.
Thirty-two firefighters from 11 different departments registered last year, Dennis said, and 23 completed the course.
Eighteen firefighters from five departments—Jemison, Collins Chapel, East Chilton and Gap of the Mountain departments—have already registered for this year’s course. Dennis said enrollment will be limited to 25.
“It’s just hard to get all the skills done with that many people out there,” Dennis said.
The course will comprise four 40-hour blocks: History and Introduction to Fire Service (to be taught beginning Aug. 3), Basic Firefighting Skills (September), Advanced Firefighting Skills (October), and Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations (November).
For more information about the course or to register, call Dennis at (205) 287-1791.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison City Council on Monday took steps to improve traffic in the Oak Grove community, which was annexed into the city in March 2009.
The council voted unanimously to install a three-way stop at the intersection of County Roads 138 and 560 and to designate the speed limit for those roads, as well as CR 141, at 20 miles per hour.
“Since we’ve done some improvements in that community, the speeding traffic has been somewhat of a problem,” Mayor Eddie Reed said.
There previously was no posted speed limit on the roads, and council members indicated residents had complained about speeding in the area.
The three-way stop was also an effort to reduce speeding.

In other business, the council:
•Approved five new members of the Jemison Fire Department: Virginia Lawley, Jeffrey Rawlinson, Alberto Salinas, Clay Seyfried and Cameron Emmrick.
•Entered into executive session to discuss “legal ramifications” but took no action on the matter before adjourning.
•Bought a full-page advertisement in the Jemison High football program for $125.
•Adjusted water bills for three residents.

By the North Chilton Advertiser staff

The Jemison Fire Department will be participating in a worthwhile cause over the next few months.
The department sought and received a grant through the Alabama Smoke Alarm Initiative that will allow firefighters to provide and install alarms for Jemison residents without alarms that work properly.
Jemison firefighters have already received training on installing the alarms and on providing fire safety information, which will be useful even for those who don’t need a new alarm. The official effort, though, will begin with kick-off event at 10 a.m. on April 10 at Jemison Fire Station One.
The following Monday through June 15, firefighters will be going door-to-door in Jemison, providing safety information and alarms.
Dennis said the initiative has saved 73 lives since its inception in 1998. If it helps save even one life in Jemison, it will be well worth the time and effort put in by the city’s firefighters.

By Stephen Dawkins

The Jemison Fire Department hopes to soon have working smoke alarms in every home in the city.
The department received a grant through the Alabama Smoke Alarm Initiative. An event at 10 a.m. on April 10 at Jemison Fire Station One will mark the beginning of an effort that will include firefighters going door-to-door, providing fire safety information and asking if they can install a new alarm.
“They give us the alarms for free, and we install it for free if [the homeowner] will let us,” Jemison Fire Chief John Dennis said. “Statistics show there are 1.4 (fire-related) deaths per 100,000 people. In Chilton County, that number is 2.8 That’s why we sought out a program like this.”
The kick-off event will feature refreshments and the chance for the public to meet Jemison firefighters and local officials, and to learn more about the initiative.
Firefighters will begin canvassing the city on April 12, paying special attention to high-risk areas, which Dennis defined as apartments and other multi-family dwellings.
The Jemison Fire Department on March 18 received training from state officials on the initiative, which is administered by the Alabama Department of Public Health in conjunction with the state Fire Marshal’s Office.
Dennis estimated that firefighters could end up installing 500 alarms in Jemison by June 15, the planned end date for the effort.

By Scott Mims

Local fire and rescue departments answered 5,634 calls in 2009, nearly 250 less than in the previous year.
The Clanton Fire Department answered the most calls at 1,462, followed by Jemison (669) and North Chilton (385). For the most part, units responded to a comparable number of calls in 2008.
Chilton County E-911 entered 64,874 calls into its CAD system, which was a significant decrease from 2008. During that year, more than 70,000 entries were made. The E-911 statistic includes fire and rescue calls, law enforcement calls, administrative calls and others.
E-911 Director Helen Smith said the decrease may be partially due to advances in communication equipment.
“A lot of officers are starting to use the MDT’s (mobile data terminals) now, and they do their own calling,” Smith said.
Also, in 2008, E-911 handled a high volume of dispatcher training and test calls, which would have been included in the statistic for that year’s calls.
“The volume has well increased in the past decade,” Smith said. “Ten years ago, we were barely using computers.”
Enterprise Fire Department saw an increase of more than 30 calls from 2008 to 2009. District Chief Raymond Hudman said new trailer parks in the area have increased the number of residents served.
Hudman said several new volunteers have come on board in the past year.
“We’ve had a good year personnel wise. We appreciate these young people coming on. A lot of them are in training now,” Hudman said.
The following is a listing of each fire department’s total calls for 2009:
•Clanton: 1,462
•Thorsby: 301
•Jemison: 669
•Maplesville: 176
•Union Grove: 315
•Fairview: 217
•East Chilton: 247
•Collins Chapel: 288
•West Chilton: 362
•Enterprise: 321
•South Chilton: 143
•Isabella: 116
•Verbena: 275
•Gap of the Mountain: 273
•North Chilton: 385
•Cedar Grove (recently formed): 62
•Plantersville (calls inside Chilton County): 22.

Twenty-two graduates completed a 160-hour volunteer firefighter certification course through the Jemison Fire Department on Saturday, Dec. 19.
Represented in the group were Jemison, North Chilton, West Chilton, Union Grove, Collins Chapel, Cedar Grove, Enterprise, East Chilton, Verbena, and White City fire departments.
“This is the same education and job performance requirements as if someone went through recruit school,” said Jemison Fire Chief John Dennis, the primary instructor for the course. “Firefighting is the same whether you’re doing it for a career or as a volunteer.”
Dennis, also a captain with Hoover Fire Department, has taught firefighter certification courses since 1995. He said the course helps volunteers have a true understanding of fire behavior, how to attack fires, and how to use equipment properly.
The course ran from June through December and focused on every aspect of firefighting, in addition to rescue training, such as extrication of a crash victim from a wrecked vehicle.
Upon recognition, the graduates received two state certificates, one for volunteer firefighting and another for hazmat (hazardous materials) awareness and operations, Dennis said.
“This is the highest level training that a volunteer can get,” he added.
Over the next two years, Dennis wants to teach other courses so the participating volunteers may build on their training.
These will include a second firefighter certification course and an apparatus operator course.
Dennis said the first course began with 34 volunteers, 22 of which went on to graduate.
“The physical drill part of it was pretty demanding, and to have 22 complete it was outstanding,” he said. “It’s going to greatly improve every department that participated in the class by having more highly skilled firefighters in their department.”

The graduates included the following:

Cortley Minor, Derek Abernathy (Jemison/West Chilton), Caleb Hollis (Jemison/Union Grove), Adam Blow, Tyler Snow, Dustin Walker (Jemison), Kevin Dennis (North Chilton), Carolyn Popwell (Cedar Grove), Jay Littleton, Alisha Minor, Shawn Carlisle, Brandon Pate (Collins Chapel), Catheriene Ferguson, Joe Mattingly, Paula Mattingly, Byran Buckner (Enterprise), Sam Mathis, Matt Rollan, Nick Young (Gap of the Mountain), Traci Terrell (East Chilton), Matt Blackmon and Michael Varden (Verbena).

By Scott Mims

The Jemison City Council voted to hire a part-time paid fire and rescue chief Monday night.
John Dennis was hired to fill the position, whose duties will include overseeing the department’s rules and regulations and the training of volunteers.
Council member Faye King explained that Bobby Tucker and Donna Manasco will remain in their leadership positions over fire and rescue, respectively.
“He’s not taking anybody’s place,” King said of Dennis.
The decision immediately followed an executive session held for the discussion of good name and character.
“We want that fire and rescue department to become what it’s supposed to be,” Mayor Eddie Reed said, thanking all the volunteers for their dedicated service. “There’s a lot of work ahead of us.”
Reed declined to comment on Dennis’ rate of pay.
In other business, the council approved a Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget totaling slightly more than $3,045,000.
The budget projects a revenue increase of approximately $50,000 from the previous fiscal year.
The city also entered into an agreement with the state to regularly maintain pavement, markings and signs near the railroad crossing on Union Grove Road. The crossing is scheduled to receive a signal upgrade soon.
“This has been long and coming,” Reed said. “We’re sure glad to hear it.”

The council also:
• Approved an ordinance outlining personnel rules and regulations for the city
• Approved the annexation of seven acres near the intersection of county roads 42 and 51
• Set the city’s Christmas parade for Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m., preceded by lineup at 1 p.m.