Funds Secured for New Mentone Fire Station

Citizens of Mentone and the surrounding communities are one step closer to a new fire station, thanks to careful planning and a substantial grant from the State of Alabama.

Alabama Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and officials with the Alabama Forestry Commission visited Mentone last month to present a check for $250,000 to the North Lookout Mountain Fire Protection District. The funds will be used to purchase land and build a new Station 1 for the volunteer department.

The current station, located on Alabama Highway 117 in the heart of Mentone, is “in bad shape,” said Chief Joseph Lee. “The septic system hasn’t worked in ten years. It’s in a floodplain, and there’s no room to add to it.”

Plans for the new facility include four bays for parking fire protection vehicles, compared to three bays in the current station. It will feature a kitchenette, bathrooms, and a space to accommodate firefighters overnight when the need arises.

“The Mentone area has experienced a lot of growth, and it’s essential for the fire department to have a new main station,” said Ledbetter. “They run a great department, working really hard to protect Mentone and Lookout Mountain, and we’ve been looking for ways to bring funds back to help them.”

That help came through a budget allocation to the Alabama Forestry Commission, which certifies the almost 1,000 volunteer fire departments across the state. “We depend on the volunteer departments,” said Scott Rouse, general counsel for the commission. With less than 200 firefighters statewide, the commission focuses mainly on deep woods fires while relying on the assistance of volunteers, who also keep their communities safe.

The Mentone department’s patience and financial planning have paid off. Lee said the department has been struggling for five years to find property and funding for the project. Working out of a main station without a restroom, the department has continued to serve the community while maintaining a sound operation.

“By being conservative and financially responsible, we have three stations full of equipment, and we don’t owe anybody anything,” said Lee. The department’s other stations include Station 2 in the Alpine Camp area and Station 3 in the Ponderosa Camp area.

Lee expressed appreciation to Ledbetter for helping find a way to make this substantial project a reality. “We started working a year or so ago with legislators to get help,” Lee said. “He came through in a big way for us.”

Lee said the fire department is currently in negotiations to purchase land on Highway 117 to build the new Station 1.

“They’ve been working and saving for years for a new fire hall, and I’m proud to see this moment come,” said Mentone Mayor Rob Hammond. The boost from the state is money well spent, he said, considering the work the department does for the region.

“This town couldn’t run without them,” Hammond added. “Through fires, storms, and accidents, they are the first responders out there. Our police rely on them. Our citizens and business owners depend on them. We enjoy reliable fire protection and lower insurance ratings because of their efforts.”

Hammond said the local volunteers are highly trained, and they work well with other fire departments in the area. “This is a rural community with lots of wooded areas, and things are spread out widely,” he added. “We’ve got to have them. They do a great job serving us.”

Vicky Patrick, treasurer for the department, said she has enjoyed watching the department grow over the past several years and achieve a strong financial position. She credits the love and generosity the community has shown through donations, a growing property tax allocation, and grants. “We’ve been able to buy a new fire engine, turnout gear, and other equipment without all those monies coming out of our pockets,” she said.

“We’ll be upgrading in a few years, but our equipment is in good shape,” said Lee. “We have plenty to operate safely with for now.”

Those wishing to make a donation toward basic operations or future equipment purchases can stop by Station 1 or mail a check to North Lookout Mountain Fire Protection District. P.O. Box 154, Mentone, AL, 35984.

While being financially sound with exciting plans ahead, the department has one overriding need: volunteers. “A lot of us work full-time jobs during the day and are not around,” Lee said. “If you’re retired and able to get out and help, you should look into becoming a volunteer firefighter.”

Lee encouraged anyone interested to contact him directly or to attend one of the department’s meetings on Monday nights at Station 2 at 6 p.m. “There are no difficult requirements for volunteering,” he said. “The training is done in-house, most of it on the scene.”

The need for volunteers extends beyond Mentone. “It’s the biggest challenge we have right now for fire departments across the state,” said Ledbetter. “The number of volunteers has decreased over the last decade. We’ve done some things to help out, as far as insurance and the taxes they pay, but we want to do more.”

He said the state is considering starting some type of firefighting course at technical schools and community colleges to entice younger people to become involved in firefighting.

Pictured in the photo above, from left to right are: (first row) Chuck Lawley, Mayor Rob Hammond, Charlie Runnels, Bob Crow, Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, Chief Joseph Lee, Alabama Forestry Commission’s Scott Rouse, volunteer Dan Greene, (second row) volunteer Eli Durham, volunteer and educator Wes Pullen, volunteer Issac Bottomlee, (third row) volunteer Gary Smith, Asst. Chief Kaleb McMunn, Larry Hooks, volunteer Ken Trowbridge, volunteer Will Blackburn, Alabama Forestry Commission’s Nick Jordan, (fourth row) Arleigh Beard, and Dylan Lee.