Fire veteran honored as Alabama’s chief of the year

“That is the place I began as a firefighter, and I hope that is the place I’ll end,” stated Russellville’s hearth chief of 20 years. “That is my house.”

Mansell, 50, started his firefighting profession as a volunteer in 1990. He turned a paid firefighter in 1992. Six years later he was promoted to lieutenant after which in 2002 he was named hearth chief.

He’s been there ever since.

A couple of weeks in the past, Mansell and his household went to the Southeast Affiliation of Fireplace Chiefs and Alabama Fireplace Chiefs Affiliation Management Convention in Cellular.

Mansell met numerous hearth chiefs from across the state and the Southeast. One night time, in the course of the convention, the Alabama Fireplace Chiefs Affiliation held its annual awards banquet, so, in fact, Mansell attended.

There have been quite a few hearth chiefs from across the state stroll to the stage to be named Fireplace Chief of the 12 months. Mansell now is aware of what that stroll seems like when your title is known as.

“It’s a giant deal to stroll up and get that trophy in entrance of a gaggle of individuals like them,” he stated. “I got here into an amazing division once I took over as chief at Russellville. I simply took the baton and stored shifting ahead.”

Russellville Capt. Randy Seal stated he’s seen the division steadily develop beneath Mansell.

“He’s achieved an actual good job. On the time (he was promoted), we had simply gone to a two-station division and had a minimal staffing of 4 males per shift. Now we’re as much as six males per shift,” stated Seal, who will likely be in his twenty fifth 12 months with the division at this time. “Now, we’ve received a number of the finest gear to work with.

“He’s fairly straightforward to work for,” Seal stated of Mansell. “He expects you to do your job, however he’s there when you should discuss to him, and open to recommendations or concepts to make the division higher. I have a look at him as a brother who’s in cost.”

Mansell, who stated he nonetheless enjoys leaping proper in and preventing fires along with his colleagues, stated he’s slowed down just a little, and he is aware of that retirement isn’t too far off.

“I’ve been blessed to work with a bunch of men who reside to serve and defend the individuals of this neighborhood each shift,” he stated. “If I do determine to retire quickly, I couldn’t consider a greater means than after being named Alabama’s Fireplace Chief of the 12 months.”