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The Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments
(AAVFD) was organized in 1977 to provide common ground for the interests
of the volunteer fire fighters in the state and to have a means
for putting those interests forward to the public and interested
agencies. Since only about 5 % of all departments have a majority
of paid personnel. The remaining departments have 50% or more volunteer
personnel and of these, some 87% are members of the AAVFD.
Early efforts of the AAVFD concentrated on membership
with emphasis on assisting numerous areas organize a volunteer fire
department. Eventually these efforts resulted in almost every square
foot of the state having coverage by a fire fighting unit. Fire
Departments in a county were encouraged to join together in county
associations until today finds each of the 67 counties with a county
fire association. This alone has fostered mutual aid, training and
shared use of training sites, not to mention the ever important
exchange of information.
The diverse geographic features of the state have
engendered numerous methods of operation for fire departments. One
end of the state deals with heat, high humidity, the effects of
using personnel and equipment in and near salt water, conducting
rescue operations in the presence of poisonous water snakes and
alligators. The other end of the state must contend with mountainous
terrain, steep cliffs, and high angle rescue operations. One volunteer
department alone has over 250 caves in its coverage area which has
resulted in unique training and equipment needs. Rural, somewhat
isolated areas of the state find volunteer fire departments having
to meet medical and rescue needs in their areas, often during and
following severe, sometimes tornadic weather. These and other challenges
have been well met as a result of the volunteer fire service in
the state continuing to attract into its ranks some superb, dedicated
men and women.
Every year the AAVFD holds an annual conference in
August and rotates the location annually among the Northern, Central,
and Southern areas of the state. Besides the annual business meeting
of the association, the conference also features training and information
sessions, vendor displays, and competitions between teams from various
member departments. The conference also includes an awards banquet,
where those who have made important contributions to firefighting
and related fields are recognized by their peers.
Two prestigious statewide awards, in addition to any
Awards of Valor that recognize lifesaving efforts, are awarded annually
at the banquet: a Firefighter of the Year Award; and, the Sherry
Garner Memorial Award, in memory of the first woman fire fighter
to lose her life in line of duty in Alabama.
The AAVFD is always striving to improve fire service
throughout the state. We do this in two basic ways, one is by being
the voice of the volunteer firefighter in Montgomery. Here we keep
track of legislation that impacts your ability to field a safe and
effective fire crew. We also propose laws that we feel will benefit
the volunteer firefighter, like the Volunteer Firefighter license
plates, for example. The other focus of our work centers on more
practical matters. We believe that by promoting training, information
exchange, and mutual aid among our member departments, we not only
improve the safety of the firefighter, but the quality of protection
provided to the communities we serve. Probably the best indicator
of the effectiveness of the fire service in this state is the increasing
number of lower Insurance Service Office (ISO) ratings found throughout
the state.
If you are interested in AAVFD membership, e-mail
the AAVFD and request an application, or write:
Alabama
Association of Volunteer Fire Depts.
P.O. Box 2490
Montgomery, AL 36102
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