HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) - Firefighters from several central Alabama fire departments are in the Florida panhandle, helping with the aftermath of Debby.
The fire departments in Hoover, Calera and Vestavia Hills make up part of the Alabama Mutual Aid System. The group is comprised of 52 teams throughout the state that can be called upon and deployed to help other regions and states impacted by natural disasters.
“It’s just loving your neighbor, right?" Hoover Fire Battalion Chief Tim Lawson said. "It’s helping your community.”
The Hoover Fire Department says two 16-person teams made up of firefighters from Hoover, Calera, Vestavia Hills and Mobile left for Florida on Saturday. The Vestavia Hills Fire Department says Monday, the teams began working their way north starting in Madison County, FL.
"We have swift water teams that are Type 1, FEMA-type teams, that go and assist with everything from flooding to tree removal and specifically they just help ‘hey, where is the damage?’" Lawson said. "It’s damage assessment type help as well.”
The Calera Fire Department says starting Tuesday, the crews will be in Perry, FL doing search and rescue operations. Calera Fire Chief Sean Kendrick released a statement saying:
"This is what we train for. So our firefighters are always ready to use their skill sets to offer aid to our community and to our neighbors. All of the fire departments in the Birmingham area have agreements to help each other during times of disaster. These same agreements exist between states. It is about neighbors helping neighbors. I am proud to be part of the firefighting community because our members willingly out themselves in harms way to help protect and save lives."
Calera Fire Chief Sean Kendrick
The Hoover Fire Department says two additional 16-person teams left for South Carolina on Monday to prep for the damage it’s expecting to see from Debby.
"All these people are excellent firefighters. They’re very skilled, technical rescue-trained people so these are people that are ready to go and help their neighbor," Lawson said. "They’re just out there doing the best they can. I’m incredibly proud of what we’re doing.”
Hoover Fire says the missions are initially set for 10 days but could be extended if the states need more help.