Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs

03/31/2026

SB269 passes the House and will head to the Governor’s office. Thanks to all our colleagues for the work done on this bill. Thank you to our Sponsors Representative Ed Oliver and Senator Bobby Singleton!!! Thank you Ryan deGraffenreid and Kim Robertson for countless hours of advocacy !!!

Eric Pendley

03/24/2026

Almost all of Alabama is considered to be an ambulance desert.

03/24/2026

🚑 Senate Bill 269 will be voted on by the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 31 — and the passage of this bill is essential to saving ambulance services in Alabama.

Today, too many communities wait HOURS for emergency help, with several counties forced to rely on a single ambulance to serve their entire area. Senate Bill 269 updates outdated reimbursement rates so EMS providers can stay staffed, on the road and ready to respond when lives are on the line.

Now is the time to act.

📞 Contact your House Member today and urge him/her to vote YES on Senate Bill 269.

No Alabamian should wait for lifesaving care because an ambulance isn’t available.

🔗 Read more about Senate Bill 269 here:

Almost all of Alabama is considered to be an ambulance desert.

03/15/2026

03/11/2026

The Alabama fire service community is saddened to learn of the passing of Semmes Fire Chief Kevin Brooks, who passed away last night following a courageous battle with cancer.

Chief Brooks faithfully served the City of Semmes and its citizens for many years. Throughout his career, he demonstrated a deep commitment to the fire service, strong leadership, and an unwavering dedication to the firefighters he led and the community he protected. His steady presence helped shape the Semmes Fire Department and made a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of serving alongside him.

Beyond his role as Fire Chief, Kevin was a mentor, friend, and respected member of Alabama’s fire service family. His legacy will continue through the firefighters he trained, the department he helped build, and the many lives he touched throughout his career.

On behalf of the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs, we extend our deepest condolences to Chief Brooks’ family, the members of the Semmes Fire Department, and the entire Semmes community.

Please keep his family, friends, and fellow firefighters in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Rest easy, Chief. We have the watch from here.

03/10/2026

Today members of the Alabama Joint Fire Council traveled to Montgomery for the annual “Day on the Hill”, meeting with state leadership and legislators to discuss issues impacting fire protection, emergency medical services, and public safety across Alabama.

Fire Chiefs and fire service leaders from around the state participated in a morning briefing alongside leadership from state government, including Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, State Fire Marshal Scott Pilgreen, Legislative Services Agency Director Othni Lathram, State Treasurer Young Boozer, and ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor.

These meetings provide an important opportunity for the fire service to work directly with state leaders on policy issues affecting emergency response, firefighter safety, and the future of EMS delivery in Alabama.

Following the morning program, members continued discussions with legislators and staff while also conducting individual meetings with their local delegations.

The Alabama Joint Fire Council appreciates the continued partnership and support from state leadership as we work together to strengthen the fire service and protect the communities we serve across Alabama.

02/16/2026

Candles may be pretty to look at, but they are a cause of home fires – and home fire deaths. Remember, a candle is an open flame, which means it can easily ignite anything that can burn.

Roughly one-third of home candle fires start in the bedroom.

Learn more about candle safety and more at www.turnyourattention.com

02/14/2026

Another successful year in the books for the Winter Leadership Professional Development Conference and the ISO Class — and this year was one for the record books.

We were proud to see record attendance for both the ISO Class and the Conference, which speaks volumes about the commitment of Alabama’s fire service leaders to continued growth, education, and excellence.

The Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Alabama Fire College, especially Diana Hewlett and the entire AFC Registration Department, for their continued partnership and tireless work behind the scenes to make events like this successful year after year.

A special thank you as well to the Hoover Fire Department and the City of Hoover for being phenomenal hosts and welcoming the Alabama fire service with outstanding support and hospitality.

And of course, none of this is possible without our sponsors. Your continued support of our Association and the fire service as a whole makes these opportunities possible — we truly could not do this alone.

Be sure to check out the Alabama Fire College’s post for conference numbers, awards, and well-deserved recognition from this year’s event.

Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this another outstanding year for Alabama’s fire service leadership.

We enjoyed another year partnering with the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs for their Winter Leadership Professional Development Conference! A BIG thank you to Hoover Fire Department for all of their support.

02/11/2026

Officers for AAFC 2025-2026.

01/08/2026

Have you registered yet? Join us for the 2026 Alabama Fire Service Professional Development Conference in Hoover, February 10-12!
Register now: www.alabamafirecollege.org/conference

Our keynote speaker, John Mathews, is a former Assistant Mayor, executive, and author whose life and career reflect resilience, clarity, and personal transformation. After overcoming addiction and homelessness in his early 20s, he rebuilt his life and entered public service, serving as Emergency Management Director for Sevier County, Tennessee, and later as Assistant Mayor over Emergency Services. He helped lead large-scale response efforts during the 2016 Gatlinburg Wildfires, an experience that shaped his approach to leadership under pressure. John later served as Vice President of Operations for a multi-million-dollar construction firm and now leads JM Consulting and the Stay the Course Institute. He is also the author of "Wisdom at a Cost", a memoir tracing his journey from rock bottom to leadership.

In his presentation, "The Power of Trust: Leadership’s True Currency", John explores trust as the foundation of effective leadership, especially in high-stakes environments. Drawing from emergency services and executive leadership, he introduces the concept of the “unspoken resume”: the daily habits, choices, and standards that build credibility long before a crisis hits. John challenges leaders to examine the promises they keep to themselves, showing how self-trust directly impacts confidence, consistency, and the ability to lead others. Attendees will learn how trust is built, how it’s lost, and the disciplined practices required to earn it back.

Thank you to Stryker for sponsoring this presentation!

01/06/2026

NERIS modernizes fire data collection with real-time validation, simplified workflows, and improved accuracy.

Learn what’s new in 2026:
👉 https://neris.fsri.org

01/05/2026

Register now! www.alabamafirecollege.org/conference

February 9: Free pre-conference workshop: ISO Public Protection Classifications

February 10-12: Alabama Fire Service Professional Development Conference