Helena, Alabama Fire Department

06/05/2026

Congratulations to Firefighter Paramedic Eric McDanal on being selected as the Helena Fire Department's nominee for the American Legion Matthew Blount Post 555 First Responders Awards for 2026 Firefighter of the Year Award.

What truly sets Eric apart, however, is his character. He is humble, dependable, hardworking, and dedicated to serving others. Whether responding to emergencies, training to improve his skills, or supporting his fellow firefighters, Eric approaches every task with professionalism and determination.

We are proud to have him as a member of the Helena Fire Department and grateful for the example he sets every day.

Please join us in congratulating Firefighter Paramedic Eric McDanal on this well-deserved recognition.

05/20/2026

05/18/2026

When the community calls, our goal is always to deliver the highest level of service.

To make sure we keep that promise, several of our Helena firefighters spent this past week at the 2026 Metro Atlanta Firefighters Conference. They learned from nationwide instructors and completed days of hands-on exercises—refining their skills in aggressive fire suppression, rapid searches, victim removals, ladders, and ventilation.

We want to give a huge thank you to these firefighters for their commitment to continuous learning. Because of their drive to be their absolute best, Helena remains in safe hands.

05/16/2026

The Helena Fire Department is incredibly proud to announce that Firefighter Eric McDanal has officially become a Nationally Registered and State Licensed Paramedic!

Eric joined our department just over two years ago, and since day one, he has exhibited a work ethic and level of dedication that is truly rare to see.

Achieving a Paramedic license is no small feat—it required Eric to spend his hard-earned days off attending school, sacrificing his personal time to complete four intense semesters of advanced medical training over the last year and a half.

But Eric didn’t stop there. While managing the paramedic curriculum, he also pushed himself on the fire suppression and rescue side. Over the past two years, Firefighter McDanal successfully completed 10 additional certifications through the Alabama Fire College ranging from Fire Instructor and Driver Operator Classes to multiple technical rescue specialty certifications.

His relentless drive to better himself directly translates to a higher level of professional care and protection for the citizens of Helena. We are incredibly fortunate to have him on our shift schedules and as a dedicated member of the Helena Fire Department family.

Please join us in congratulating FireMedic Eric McDanal on this massive milestone! Thank you for your hard work and commitment to our community, Eric!

05/15/2026

We love our community partnerships, and we are proud to support the Helena Elementary School PTO each year during their Spring Fling raffle!

Yesterday morning, the crew of Engine 61 had the pleasure of giving one very excited student a morning commute he won't forget—a ride to school in the fire engine!

Seeing his excitement is exactly why we love doing this. We are so happy we could be a part of making his day extra special, and we are already looking forward to next year's "Ride to School" raffle!

Join us in congratulating this year's lucky winner! 🎉

05/06/2026

A Tornado Watch has been issued for our area until 11:00 PM CDT tonight, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Stay weather aware and prepare for potential severe conditions as Helena is included in the watch area.

What You Should Do

Stay Informed: Monitor official local weather alerts and ensure your emergency notifications are turned on.
Have a Plan: Know where your safe shelter is located and make sure family members know what to do.
Secure Property: Bring in or secure any loose outdoor furniture or items due to the high wind threat.
Take Action: Go to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building immediately if a Tornado Warning is issued for Helena.

A Tornado Watch has been issued for much of Central Alabama until 11pm this evening. Stay weather aware & heed warnings!

05/01/2026

A huge THANK YOU to the Helena Walmart Market for their support again this year through the Walmart Sparks Good Grant program. Thanks to this year's grant, we were able to get 2 pallets of water and a pallet of electrolyte sports drinks.

As the summer heat begins to rise in Helena, keeping our public safety personnel hydrated is more critical than ever. Whether they are running drills during training sessions or battling the elements during long incidents, these supplies ensure our personnel stay hydrated and ready to serve.

We truly appreciate Helena Walmart's ongoing commitment to the safety and well-being of our first responders and the entire Helena community!

04/11/2026

We had a blast (and a burn!) assisting the students at Helena High School with their recent Forensic Fire/Arson lab. We’re always proud to partner with our local schools to help bring classroom lessons to life!

04/04/2026

While we wish we could send every member to every certification course at once, training a department is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, coordination, and a lot of repetition to get everyone "up to speed."

Last week, we hosted a Vehicle Extrication Certification course with members from Helena, Alabaster, and Cahaba Valley attending. By Friday afternoon, the class was over—but there was still some "work" left in a couple of the training cars provided to us.

Rather than letting that opportunity go to waste over the weekend, a couple of members from Helena and Alabaster who attended the course stepped up. They spent their morning passing along their new skills to their coworkers, ensuring the knowledge didn't stay with just a few people, but spread through their whole crew.
We were proud to have Alabaster Engine 11 join us to train side-by-side, strengthening the working relationship between our departments.

A huge thank you to Wheeler Wrecker for providing the vehicles that make this training possible. We are proud to have members who are willing to seize every training opportunity to better serve the citizens of Helena.