10/16/2026
🔥 Firefighter Friday with Center Point Fire District - Legacy Spotlight Edition! 🔥
This week, we are highlighting Mike Asbury.
Lieutenant Mike Asbury served in the fire service from 2000 to 2024, beginning as a volunteer with Springville before continuing his career with Tarrant. He spent the final 17 years of his career working with Hoover and Center Point Fire District, serving CPFD from 2008 until his retirement in 2024.
During his time at Center Point, Mike worked at nearly every station in the district, with the exception of Station 3, which had closed before his time. He served as an Apparatus Operator at Stations 1 and 5 and as a Lieutenant at Station 2, where he spent the majority of his career. Station 2 holds a special place in his heart, and he thoroughly enjoyed his time serving the district. He is glad to see progress toward reopening Station 3 and bringing much-needed protection back to the Pawnee community.
Throughout his career, Mike earned his paramedic certification along with numerous additional certifications, including Firefighter I and II, Fire Officer I and II, Fire Instructor I and II, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Apparatus Operator Pumper and Aerial, and Hazardous Materials Technician. He also focused on specialized training related to weapons of mass destruction and national security, including radiological, biological, and explosives-related certifications.
For Mike, the decision to enter the fire service came down to the opportunity to help others, whether responding to an emergency or assisting someone with a more everyday need. He recalls helping elderly residents turn off water after a major leak or changing smoke detector batteries. What kept him in the profession, however, was both the excitement of the work and the relationships he built along the way. “I worked with people that truly are closer than my own family. I have brothers and sisters I may have not seen in years, but if I needed them, I could call and they would drop everything to help me without question.”
Those relationships also helped shape Mike personally and professionally. He reflects, “Being around the company of good people definitely helped me to grow up and think of something bigger and more important than myself.” The fire service exposed him to experiences and situations he wouldn’t encounter in most other careers, helping shape his perspective. Over the years, he learned the importance of attention to detail, taking pride in his work, and learning life skills from those around him, both on and off the job.
Mike remembers being excited to work alongside experienced members, hearing their stories, and trying to follow their example. As those firefighters retired, they passed the torch to the next generation, carrying forward the knowledge, traditions, and lessons they had learned. He describes the transition as something that happens gradually, until one day the former student becomes the person younger firefighters turn to for answers. “The change happens right before your eyes without you even realizing it until you're the one being asked from younger members about things or teaching things that was passed down to you like it is some sort of secret club handshake.”
Several people helped Mike person he is today, including Dirk Phillips, Captain Chris Brewis, Jeff Burleson, Battalion Chief Joe Nobles, and Captain Eric Dunn. He credits Retired Deputy Chief Al Tinney with having the greatest impact on him. Mike remembers the hours they spent talking on the back patio at Station 1, discussing everything from fire service matters to life in general. Al's knowledge and willingness to invest his time in Mike helped shape him into a better officer, firefighter, and man. One lesson, in particular, stayed with him. “He taught me that as an officer, you are in charge, but your biggest responsibility is making sure your people go home safely to their loved ones at the end of the shift.”
When reflecting on memorable moments, Mike finds it difficult to choose just one. He remembers the nicknames, pranks, and jokes shared among crews, along with the unpredictable nature of the work itself. A shift could move from comforting a widow who had just lost her husband after 40 or 50 years of marriage to delivering a baby in a living room just ten minutes later across the Parkway. For him, many of the most memorable moments were not defined by a single call, but by the people beside him when they responded.
Looking back on his time at Center Point, Mike is especially proud to have been part of the department. “I can honestly say that I hung with and was part of one of the greatest departments in Alabama. And I truly have worked with the best men and women in the business.” He describes CPFD as one of the last places where the bonds between coworkers feel like family, regardless of whether they share the same blood. Mike adds, “It is truly one of the greatest achievements I could accomplish and I thoroughly loved every minute of it.”
For today's firefighters, Mike encourages them to make the most of the opportunities available to them at Center Point. “You're going to get out of the department what you put into. You have a unique opportunity in that we all come from different departments and backgrounds, so the ability to learn new skills, network, and forge relationships is a blessing at Center Point.” He encourages current members to use that opportunity to continue serving the citizens and visitors who depend on them.
Although Mike misses the department and the people he worked alongside, retirement has given him more time with his wife and children. He enjoys restoring old World War II battle ri**es and has returned to spending more time outdoors hunting, fishing, and camping. Even in retirement, he still enjoys keeping busy.
Mike’s time in the fire service was shaped by the people he worked alongside, the lessons they passed down, and the opportunity to serve others. His experiences reflect the brotherhood and commitment to service that make Center Point special, and he takes pride in having been part of a department he considers family. The relationships he built and the traditions he helped carry forward are part of both his personal legacy and the lasting legacy of CPFD! ⭐️🧯🚒
