Semmes Fire Department & The City of Semmes Fire & Rescue

FIRST FIRE DEPARTMENT

​Elaine and N. L.(Rat) Dearmon  were the driving force behind the  establishment  of  the town of Semmes first fire department in 1975.  Rat served as Fire Chief for 35 years.  When a fire call came in and Rat was not available, Elaine would rally the volunteers and drive the fire truck herself. 
 
The fire department was composed of all volunteers.  The first officers were President N.L. Dearmon, Vice President J. Billy Woodard, Treasurer Jessie Vick, Secretary Elaine Dearmon and Fire Dept. Chaplin Rev. Albert Huckaby.

The  first fire station was located on Wulff Rd on land leased from the Mobile County School Board in 1976.The first fire truck was a 1948 Mack truck purchased from the Mobile Fire Department for $10.00.
 
The second fire station is located  at Coleman Dairy and Lott Road.
By 1996 the volunteer fire department had grown to two fire stations, 30 volunteer members and seven fire trucks.

CITY OF SEMMES FIRE & RESCUE

The City of Semmes was founded May 2, 2011 and contributed money  to the Semmes Volunteer Department until The City of Semmes Fire  & Rescue Department  was established November 3, 2016 as a paid fire department.
 
The City fire department provides Basic Life Support Care, Fire Prevention and Fire Suppression to the citizens of Semmes  jurisdiction. Kevin Brooks is the Fire Chief with  a total of 24 personnel. (2019)
 
The city has three Fire Stations,  #1 -3751 Wulff Rd., Station # 2 -6836 Lott Rd., Station # 3 -8855 Morris Hill Rd. and a Training Center– 9010 Forest Street.
 
The Training Center is used  for the training of local firefighters throughout Mobile County providing  realistic training and instruction on fighting deadly structural fires.
 
The Mobile County Commission funded the three-and-a-half story  fire tower out of Commissioner Connie Hudson’s District 2 education funds in partnership with the City of Semmes.
 
City Fire Department trucks and equipment  include  3 engines, (Two brand new fire trucks were purchased by the city in 2018), (1) Reserve Engine (1)Ladder Truck (1) Tanker Pumper, (2) Brush Trucks, (2) Command Vehicles, (1) Inspector Car (1) High Water Rescue Truck, Specialized equipment include the Jaws of life, air bags, stabilizing struts, Rope Rappelling Gear, Confined Space Tripod.
 
In the dedication and Reopening Ceremony held on July 19, 2017, by the City of Semmes, at station # 1 the Dearmons were honored for their tireless dedication for the safety of their community, when Station #1 was named  the N.L. Dearmon Station. Rat passed away April 24, 2014 and  Elaine April  14, 2015.
 
Sources;  Scrapbook of Memories
City of Semmes Fire Chief Kevin Brooks