Ozark Fire and Rescue

09/04/2026

🔥 ONE WEEK DOWN! 🔥
Week one of Recruit School 2026 is officially in the books, and our recruits have already covered a lot!

They’ve been introduced to PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and SCBA (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus) — the gear and breathing equipment firefighters rely on to work safely in dangerous environments. They’ve also been learning fire dynamics, which is the science behind how fire behaves, grows and spreads.

The week included communications, first aid, fire service operations and safety, and ropes and knots — all important building blocks as they begin learning the job.

And then there’s PT.
A LOT of PT.

Because doing this job in full gear takes strength, endurance and more than a little determination!
With everything they learned this week, though, there is one lesson they apparently needed to learn the hard way...

🚩 KEEP UP WITH THE RECRUIT FLAG!

Wouldn’t you know it — they lost it on DAY 3! 😂
If you followed last year’s recruit school, you already know an unattended flag has a funny way of going on adventures of its own. Apparently this class decided to get that tradition started early!

Week one down! Keep cheering them on — they’ve still got plenty of learning, training and sweating ahead of them!

08/28/2026

🔥 RECRUIT SCHOOL 2026 IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY! 🔥

Say hello to our newest recruits!

Today marks the beginning of several weeks of hard work, long days, hands-on training, studying, teamwork, and plenty of sweat as they build the skills and knowledge needed to become firefighters.

Recruit school will challenge them both physically and mentally, but every drill, every lesson, and every long day gets them one step closer to earning their place in the fire service.

We’re excited to watch them learn, grow, and see just how far they come over the next few months.

And yes… they’re already holding on VERY tightly to that recruit flag. Those of you who followed along last time know that flag has a tendency to go on adventures when recruits aren’t paying attention. 👀

If you see our recruits out training over the coming weeks, give them a wave, a word of encouragement, or simply wish them well! And be sure to leave them some encouragement in the comments as they begin their journey through Recruit School 2026!

08/28/2026

It was our honor to lead the funeral procession for retired Ozark Fire & Rescue Lieutenant Paramedic Ed Whitehead.

After 29 years of dedicated service to OFD and the citizens of Ozark, it was a privilege to accompany Ed on his final journey and pay tribute to one of our own.

Once OFD family, always OFD family.

08/25/2026

The Ozark Fire & Rescue family is incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Ed Whitehead.

Ed joined OFD in 1991 and dedicated 29 years of service to our department and the citizens of Ozark, retiring as a Lieutenant Paramedic. Over those years, Ed became much more than a member of our department — he became part of the OFD family.

We are grateful for the many years Ed spent serving alongside us and for the impact he made during his time with the department. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and worked with him.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Ed’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. Please know that your OFD family is thinking of you.

Rest easy, Ed.

View George Edward Whitehead III's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

08/24/2026

📅 Mark your calendars!

Come out and hear from our Community Risk Reduction Officer, Chief Danny McDaniel, at the upcoming Coffee & Conversation!

Chief McDaniel will be discussing Community Risk Reduction and the work being done to help keep Ozark safe, informed, and prepared.

We hope to see you there!

☕️ Coffee, Conversation & Community!

Join the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce for Coffee & Conversation featuring guest speaker Danny McDaniel, Battalion Chief / CRRO.

📅 Wednesday, September 2, 2026
⏰ 7:30–8:30 AM
📍 Holman House, 285 E. Broad Street

Come enjoy a cup of coffee, connect with fellow community members, and hear from a great local leader! We’d love to see you there!

📞 RSVP to Rosmarie: 334-774-9321

08/20/2026

🔥 WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?! 🔥

It’s been almost a month since we’ve checked in here on Facebook — but trust us, there’s been plenty happening behind the scenes at Ozark Fire & Rescue!

Over the last few weeks, several of our firefighters have been putting in the work through our promotional testing process for Sergeant, Captain, and Battalion Chief. We’re proud of everyone who stepped up, challenged themselves, and took the opportunity to work toward the next level in their fire service careers.

And now, we’re getting ready for another big undertaking — Recruit School! 🚒🔥

Once again, Recruit School will be held right here in Ozark at Station 3. Our newest OFD recruits will be joined by recruits from surrounding fire departments as they begin the long road toward earning their certifications.

So, over the next few months, don’t be surprised if you see a group around Station 3 sweating, pulling hose, climbing ladders, throwing on gear, and putting in some serious work in the South Alabama heat. ☀️🥵

And if you followed our last Recruit School, you probably remember the Recruit Flag. 👀🚩

Every recruit class has a flag — and one very important responsibility: keep up with it. Because if they don't keep a close enough eye on it, well… someone might just take advantage of the opportunity for it to be “stolen.” 😉

Last year’s flag managed to make it all the way to New York City before making its way back home. 🗽😂

So the real question is…

Where do you think this year’s Recruit Flag will end up?! 👀🚩

Through all of the promotional testing and Recruit School preparations, our crews have continued answering calls, training, maintaining equipment, and serving our community every day.

We’ve got a lot happening at OFD, and we’re ready to bring you along for it. Stay tuned — Recruit School is right around the corner! 🚒🔥

07/24/2026

Ozark EMS is growing—and we're looking for dedicated professionals to join our team!

We're currently hiring all certification levels, including:
• EMT
• Advanced EMT
• Paramedic

Whether you're just starting your EMS career or looking for your next opportunity, Ozark EMS offers the chance to serve a community that values public safety while working alongside a professional, supportive team.

Benefits include:
✔ Competitive pay
✔ City-paid employee health insurance
✔ Retirement plan
✔ Paid vacation and sick leave
✔ Uniforms provided
✔ Opportunities for advancement

Minimum Qualifications:
• Alabama licensed or certifiable
• Valid driver's license
• National Registry accepted
• CPR, ACLS & PALS (as applicable)
• Must meet all department hiring requirements

📍 Applications are available at:

Ozark Municipal Complex
275 N. Union Ave.
Ozark, AL 36360

07/09/2026

🚒 Did you know? 🚑

Many people know and follow the Ozark Fire & Rescue page, but did you know that City of Ozark EMS has its own page too?

While Ozark Fire & Rescue and Ozark EMS are separate divisions within the City of Ozark Department of Public Safety, we work side by side every day to serve our community. Each division has its own team, training, equipment, and stories to share.

Our Fire page focuses on firefighting, prevention, training, and community outreach, while the Ozark EMS page highlights the dedicated professionals who provide emergency medical care, public education, and everything that happens behind the scenes in EMS.

If you haven't already, take a moment to follow the Ozark EMS page so you can stay up to date on both sides of public safety in Ozark. We appreciate your continued support of all of our personnel!

👉 Head over to the Ozark EMS page, give it a follow, and share it with your friends and family!

https://www.facebook.com/OzarkEMS

Emergency Medical Services, more commonly known as EMS, is a system that provides emergency medical

07/08/2026

This week, Ozark Fire & Rescue got to welcome visitors from Germany.
Thomas Streitmatter and Jessica Puschmann, family friends of OFD Firefighter Marin, stopped by the station while visiting the United States. Thomas serves with Freiwillige Feuerwehr Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain, and Jessica is also involved in emergency response in Germany.
They were kind enough to bring several items from their department, including a section of fire hose with their department's name, uniform patches, a bunker gear patch, and a department photo. We were happy to send them home with an Ozark Fire & Rescue patch and one of our helmet fronts in return.
During their visit, we enjoyed learning about how the fire service operates in Germany, including the fact that their department is entirely volunteer. It was interesting to compare the similarities and differences between our departments and exchange experiences from opposite sides of the world.
Thank you, Thomas and Jessica, for stopping by and for the thoughtful gifts. We enjoyed having the opportunity to meet you and wish you safe travels home!

07/06/2026

In a world full of AI-generated images, this one is the real thing.
A beautiful moment captured over Ozark Fire & Rescue Station 3 as fireworks lit up the sky in celebration of America's 250th birthday.
We hope everyone had a safe, happy, and memorable Independence Day weekend. Thank you to everyone who celebrated responsibly, and to those who worked throughout the holiday to help keep our community safe.