Bay Springs Volunteer Fire & Rescue

This has been repeated ad nauseum over the years. We can promise you that it is only getting worse. The fix is not something that is palatable to most and unfathomable to others. If you don't know how bad your local community volunteer fire and/or EMS is struggling, reach out and ask them. You might be surprised and maybe even angered enough to start making progress in improving services in your area. This is not a fix that a small amount of people can bring about, but it is fixable.

Fire departments are struggling to recruit volunteer firefighters. Here's what you need to know about the nationwide shortage https://www.investigatetv.com/2026/06/11/volunteer-firefighter-shortage-threatens-communities-nationwide/

🚨 Fire Restoration Fundraiser 🚨

The Kinsey Fire and Police Departments are hosting a fundraiser to support Kelley, Ashlyn, and Lane following a recent house fire.

Join us for a BBQ Fundraiser with:
🍖 Boston Butts – $35
🍖 Racks of Ribs – $25

📅 Pickup: May 16th at 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Kinsey Fire Department

🎟️ Tickets available now through May 14th at:
Kinsey City Hall at 6947 Walden Drive
📞 (334) 793-5409
Or by contacting any City employee

💛 Donations are also accepted with or without a BBQ purchase. Every contribution helps this family as they begin to rebuild.

We appreciate the continued prayers and support from our community. 🙏

City of Dothan Employee of the Month - Jeremy Alley

Captain Jeremy Alley consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, professionalism, and commitment to excellence during his assignment to the Training Division for the Dothan Fire Department. Serving as Training Officer, he supervised the daily operations of the division while ensuring that firefighters across the department received high quality, meaningful training that directly enhanced safety and effectiveness in the field.

In this role, Captain Alley has coordinated and delivered certification courses, conducted both single company and multi-company drills, and led recruit academies that prepare new firefighters for the demands of the profession. He also served as the fire department’s primary liaison with the Alabama Fire College, managing course registrations and helping maintain the department’s status as one of the state’s premier Regional Training Centers. His efforts have ensured that members of the department have continued access to advanced training opportunities and nationally recognized certifications.

Captain Alley’s accomplishments speak to both his work ethic and his dedication to others. Throughout his time in the Dothan Fire Department’s Training Division, he consistently performed as a role model employee. He has led five recruit academies, successfully training and certifying 41 new firefighters who now serve our community. Over the past two and a half years, he delivered 10 different single company drill programs across nine stations and three shifts, along with 24 multi-company drills that included live fire training evolutions. Altogether, his efforts resulted in 597 certifications being awarded to department members across 53 courses.

Captain Jeremy Alley represents the best of the City of Dothan and the Dothan Fire Department!

If you would like to donate to the Betsill family, this is the preferred method.

saferal.org

Wanted to post a quick shout out to the first responders. We were visited today by Jason Reneau, Jim Mock and Jadyn Morgan who drove up from Kinsey this morning and were there Monday night. Jason Reneau, Jim Mock, Jadyn Morgan, Chris Betsill, Stephen Messer, Janelle Severson, Matt Lawhorn, Daniel Forrester, Ethyn Wilkerson, Steven Caldwell, Joseph Lucy, Kyle Shiphorst, Drew Ruble and Caleb Sullenberger. Kinsey, Webb, Headland, Columbia, Bay Springs, Rehobeth. I know I have missed so many but I wanted to get this out.

Thank you all so much for your efforts in making sure they got out and made it to the hospital which has gotten us to where we are right now. A special thank you to Kyle Shiphorst for taking control of their on-scene care, performing at the highest level possible and just being amazing. Thank you all! - James

Please do not do any outside burning.

📢With worsening drought conditions across the state and low relative humidity, State Forester Rick Oates has issued a statewide Fire Alert effective immediately.

Over the past weekend, 50 wildfires burned more than 2,300 acres of forestland across the state. This includes a 500-acre wildfire in Mobile County, one for 412 acres in Coosa County, one for 382 acres in Choctaw County, one for 260 acres in Washington County, and another one for 105 acres in Escambia County.

In the last 30 days, 387 wildfires have burned approximately 15,850 acres of forestland across the state.

“With no measurable rain in sight, the continued extremely dry conditions create dangerous wildfire behavior,” said Oates. “These conditions create the potential for fires to escape easily and spread rapidly, taking longer and more of the agency’s firefighting resources to contain. Fast-moving wildfires not only destroy property and forests but also threaten the lives of citizens and endanger firefighters.”

This Fire Alert will remain in effect until rescinded by the State Forester, at least through Monday, April 20. Conditions will be reevaluated at that time. Permits for outdoor burning will be restricted only to Certified Prescribed Burn Managers. Anyone who burns a field, grassland, or woodland without a burn permit may be subject to prosecution for committing a Class B misdemeanor.

The Alabama Forestry Commission is the state agency committed to protecting Alabama’s invaluable forest assets and its citizens. To report a wildfire, call (800) 392-5679. For more information on the current wildfire situation in the state or any other forestry-related issues, contact your local AFC office or visit the agency website at www.forestry.alabama.gov

Firefighters from our department will be out flushing fire hydrants today in our coverage area south of US 84. You may experience discolored water.