Alabama Fire Departments deploying Fire and Water Rescue teams to Gulf Coast ahead of Hurricane Isaias
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- Alabama fire departments deploying five-engine response team and specialized water rescue units to Gulf Coast ahead of Hurricane Isaias.
- First pre-deployment under AAFCMAC mutual aid agreement established after Hurricane Sally to improve coordination during major emergencies.
Fire departments from across Alabama are preparing to deploy fire suppression and water rescue resources to the Gulf Coast ahead of Hurricane Isaias, with the Auburn and Opelika fire departments among those sending equipment and personnel.
The deployment is being coordinated through the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid Consortium (AAFCMAC) as emergency officials prepare for the potential impacts of Isaias along the Gulf Coast. The storm strengthened into a hurricane Wednesday night and is expected to bring dangerous conditions to portions of the Gulf Coast and inland Alabama.
According to the AAFCMAC, a five-engine response team supported by a battalion chief and a rescue transport unit is being assembled. Participating departments include the Chelsea Fire Department, Auburn Fire Department, Opelika Fire Department, Morris Fire Department, Irondale Fire Department, Pelham Fire Department and Cahaba Valley Fire Department.
Auburn Fire Department will provide one fire engine, while Opelika Fire Department will also provide one engine for the deployment.
In addition to the engine team, specialized water rescue teams are being prepared by the Mountain Brook, Hoover, Trussville, Vestavia Hills and Calera fire departments. Those teams will be available to assist with potential flooding and swiftwater rescue operations.
The deployment represents the first time resources have been pre-deployed under the AAFCMAC mutual aid agreement, which was established following Hurricane Sally in 2020. The agreement was created to improve coordination between Alabama fire departments and allow personnel, apparatus and specialized resources to be mobilized more quickly during major emergencies and disasters.
Participating teams are scheduled to depart Thursday, October 8, and remain deployed through Sunday, October 11, depending on weather conditions, operational needs and requests for assistance.
Once deployed, the teams will be prepared to assist local emergency responders with fire suppression, emergency medical services, water rescue and other emergency operations. Personnel will be staged in safe locations during the storm and will move into affected communities when conditions allow.
The Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs says it is coordinating with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, local emergency management agencies and participating fire departments to ensure resources are deployed safely and efficiently.
The deployment comes as Alabama prepares for potential impacts from Hurricane Isaias. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency says portions of the state could experience impacts beginning Friday and continuing into early Sunday, including flooding and power outages.
For CNAW2News.com viewers in Auburn, Opelika and across East Alabama and West Georgia, the deployment of local fire resources is significant because firefighters from the area will be positioned to assist communities along the Gulf Coast while local departments continue preparing for Isaias' potential impacts closer to home.
CNAW2News.com will continue monitoring Hurricane Isaias and the latest information from emergency management agencies, the National Hurricane Center and local fire departments.
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