Interstate Chicken Truck Fire

Irondale Fire & Rescue

Drivers on Interstate 20 in Irondale had chicken on their mind Friday morning. That's because an 18-wheeler loaded with frozen chicken was on fire on I-20 Eastbound before the Grants Mill Road exit.

As you can see in the pictures below, even though Irondale firefighters worked hard for several hours, there wasn't much left. Combine the fuel with all that grease and you've got one big Interstate grill.

The scene was such a large mess that an emergency response team from a professional environmental cleaning company was dispatched.

I-20 was closed for four hours.

Downtown Building Collapse

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

Birmingham firefighters responded to a partial building collapse in the 1700 block of Morris Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters found the entire front of the building in a pile in front of the building.

First reports were that someone may have been trapped. After clearing the building and finding no patients, the building was turned over to investigators.

The investigation into the cause of the collapse continues.

Thank you, Chuck, for sharing these pictures!

Officer Geoff Stone Funeral

Vestavia Hills Police Department

The funeral for Vestavia Hills officer Geoff Stone was held today at the Church of the Highlands in Irondale. To allow more officers to attend, officers from surrounding cities helped cover calls in the city of Vestavia during the funeral.

Below are just a few of the departments represented.

Officer Geoff Stone

Vestavia Hills Police Department

An off-duty Vestavia Hills police officer was on his way to work when a deer ran in front of his motorcycle as he was traveling North on I-65 near Valleydale Road. After striking the deer, Officer Stone was struck by two other vehicles and tragically lost his life.

Officer Stone, a deeply religious and family man by all accounts, was a loving husband and father of five children.

Prior to joining Vestavia Hills Police Department, Officer Stone was in the Air Force and was a 10 year veteran of the Birmingham Police Department.

Visitation for Officer Geoff Stone will be held Wednesday, January 9, from 11:00-13:00, with the funeral beginning at 13:00. The Church of the Highlands in Irondale will be conducting the services.

Address: 4700 Highlands Way. (Near Grants Mill and Overton Road)

Directions: From I-459, take the Grants Mill Road exit in Irondale, turn south, go past the auto mall and the Church will be on the right.


View Larger Map

Please remember Officer Stone's family, friends and fellow officers in your thoughts and prayers.

Update : Pictures

BFRS to build Station 22/10

Birmingham Fire & Rescue

The City of Birmingham is planning a more than $2 million Fire Station in South Avondale to replace Stations 10 and 22.


Current Station 10...




Current Station 22...




Birmingham Fire Stations Map


From the Birmingham News:

South Avondale fire station bid accepted
No. 22/10 to replace two outdated facilities
Saturday, January 05, 2008
VICTORIA L. COMAN
News staff writer

The Birmingham City Council has accepted a more than $2 million bid for construction of Birmingham Fire Station 22/10 in South Avondale.

Fire Chief Carl J. Harper said the station is expected to be built on a parking lot at 4439 Fifth Ave. South. It will serve the Forest Park-South Avondale and North Avondale areas.

"It's a pretty big project," Harper said.

He did not know when construction would begin but said it would probably take about a year to build the station.

Station 22/10 will replace both Fire Station 22 at 3114 Clairmont Ave. and Fire Station 10 at 4120 Second Ave. North. City officials decided to combine the stations based on a recommendation by Firescope Inc., a consulting firm that studied Birmingham fire stations in 2003.

Stations 22 and 10 are outdated, Harper said. "Some of the larger ladder trucks could not fit."

Station 22 was built in 1927 and Station 10 in 1926. Harper said the new station is expected to have five bays; the old stations had two each.

The new station will be handicap accessible and will cost less to operate, Harper said.

E-mail: vcoman@bhamnews.com

(Story)

New Station location:


View Larger Map