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MUMBLINGS July 14, 2005
One thousand volunteers are responsible for Baldwin
County's 135,820 full time residents having the finest rural volunteer fire
departments in Alabama and possibly, the United States. Baldwin has 36
departments spread throughout the county where the volunteers cover all 1,241
square miles.
Only five of these have paid firemen. They are in Bay
Minette, Foley, Daphne, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Fairhope has a paid
inspector.
In addition, the Alabama Forestry
Department has its own fire protection crews.
The volunteer firemen are being praised
throughout the county for their dedication to their volunteered duties. People
say that they are so efficient that they often beat ambulances, policemen,
highway patrolmen, and other rescue vehicles to the scene of a pending
disaster.
In April, 1990, our Baldwin legislative
delegation successfully sponsored a constitutional amendment allowing the
citizens of Baldwin to vote on a one and one-half mil ad valorem tax to buy
equipment and needed supplies for these various fire departments. To the praise
of the voters, they approved it and now each location receives funds from this
tax.
Interestingly, the first year they
received about $20,000 each and now it exceeds $90,000. (So far this year
$89,000 has been distributed to each.) These funds are administered through
Phil Nix, Commissioner of the Revenue office monthly and go directly to the
various fire departments.
Naturally, these funds are audited by
proper authorities.
The Baldwin County Fire Chiefs' Association was
established in 1969. They have monthly meetings and elect their own officers
who serve without pay. Present officers are President, Ken Eslava, Daphne; Vice
President, Webb Bush, Bay Minette; Secretary, Roger Few, Spanish Fort;
Treasurer, Wayne Nabors, Bay Minette.
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Continued
The 36 locations include: Barnwell, Bay Minette Fire &
Rescue, Belforest, Bon Secour, Crossroads, Daphne Fire & Rescue, Elberta,
Elsanor, Fairhope, Foley, Fort Morgan, Gateswood, Gulf Shores Fire &
Rescue, Josephine, Lillian, Lottie, Loxley. Magnolia Springs, Marlow, Orange
Beach Fire & Rescue, Oyster Bay, Perdido, Perdido Beach, Pine Grove, Rabun,
Robertsdale, Rosinton, Seminole, Silverhill, Spanish Fort, Stapelton, Stockton,
Styx River, Summerdale, Tensaw, White House Fork.
Enough praise cannot be given to these
good volunteers. Thanks to all of you for serving this county so well.
Hopefully, next week we'll be able to tell
you about our Search and Rescue squads. They too, deserve much praise.
See you again soon, I hope. |
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