Fire chief gives time, energy to multiple committees

Although being a firefighter isn’t new to Trussville Fire Chief Russell Ledbetter after almost four decades of public service, he does have a new title with the Alabama Fire College.

Ledbetter has served on the Fire College’s Board of Commissioners for the last two years, and in January was elected chairman of the board.

Allan Rice, executive director of the Alabama Fire College, said the college has been in existence since the 1930s. Rice said the Fire College started out as a few weeks of training per year, where firefighters would gather from around the state. This was the closest thing they had to formal training.

“Everybody at the time thought we should do this all the time, and have a full-time place to do it,” said Rice.

The Fire College has entry-level training through advanced fire chief training.

There is a seven-member personnel standards commission at the Fire College, which acts as a board of directors, and Ledbetter was nominated and unanimously elected by his peers to serve as chairman of the board. Rice said since Ledbetter already is well known and has a great reputation in the fire community, he feels the transition into being chairman will be seamless.

“It is a great honor,” Ledbetter said. “When I started as a fireman, I never envisioned being on the commission, much less the chairman.”

He said it’s rare to find a group of people all working toward the same goal, which is exactly what the board does — works together to better fire service across the state.

“It’s gratifying to be part of a group that has such a large impact and help a large group of people go out and help individuals,” Rice said.

Rice said the board has the authority to write the requirements for firefighter certification.

“Through their actions, they write the administrative code that determines how firefighters get certified,” he said. “Russell will preside over the meetings and appoint committees, and he is my day-to-day point of contact as far as who I interact with on the commission.”

Overall, Ledbetter’s responsibility with the Fire College is to ensure the organization is accountable as a public institution, Rice said.

Ledbetter got his start as a volunteer at Palmerdale Fire Department in 1979 and has called the Trussville Fire Department home since February 1998.

Ledbetter said he got into firefighting almost by accident. His cousin started at a volunteer fire department, and he followed suit. However, after serving 23 years in the National Guard, he said public service comes naturally to him.

“I did it just to be a part of the community to start, and I liked it so much I decided it was what I wanted to do for a living,” Ledbetter said. “It’s been a calling for me.”

In addition to his firefighting career, Ledbetter serves on the Rural Community Fire Protection Committee and the Forestry Committee. In his spare time Ledbetter hunts and fishes and collects military memorabilia.