Fire Marshal’s Office

Millbrook Fire Marshal
Captain D. Campbell
Office: 334-285-6707

Duties of the Fire Marshal

The Fire Marshal’s duties include Fire Code enforcement, investigation of the cause and origin of any large and/or suspicious fires, public education and safety and plan review of all commercial and multi-family construction.

Millbrook Fire Codes

The following Fire Codes are enforced by the Millbrook Fire Marshal:

• 2018 International Fire Code (and its references/appendices) with some specific exceptions.
• 2018 NFPA Life Safety Code (and its references/appendices) with some specific exceptions.

BURN PERMITS

Burn permits are issued at no charge and the Burn Permit Applicant must agree to the following conditions:

1. Burn material must be restricted to “live growth” only.
2. Fire must be attended at all times.
3. Burn hours are from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM unless otherwise approved.
4. No combustible material to be added after 4:00 PM.
5. An approximately fifty (50) foot area around the burn site must cleared.
6. A method of fire control must be maintained at the site during burning. (i.e. water hose, tractor, etc.)
7. The burn pile must not be larger than five (5) feet tall and ten (10) feet in diameter.  Burn ONE pile at a time.  Approval is required if larger.
8. Do not burn if the wind exceeds five (5) mph.
9. Your Burn Permit must be kept at the burn site and presented upon request.
10. Your Burn Permit may be revoked if complaints are received or the possibility of a hazardous situation develops.

** Illegal burning may be addressed with a Citation which will include a minimum fine of $50 and a court appearance.

FIRE HYDRANT INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

1. No shopping center, commercial, residential, or apartment development shall be constructed or developed within the city or its police jurisdiction unless each structure is served by fire hydrants installed in accordance with the following requirements:

• Fire hydrants must conform to the specifications for National Standard fire hydrants for ordinary water works service of the American Water Works Association, and each fire hydrant installed after March 31, 2007, shall include an anti-terrorism valve designed to protect against accidental backflow and intentional contamination of drinking water via the   The ATV shall be a stealth check valve located internal to the upper barrel of the hydrant and shall meet or exceed the specifications established by the Millbrook Utility Department.
• Fire hydrants must be installed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard The barrel of fire hydrants shall be set perpendicular with the ground with the lowest discharge not less than 15 inches above finished grade, and the large pumper connection facing the street.
• Fire hydrants shall be equipped with not less than one four-and-one-half-inch out­ let and two two-and-one-half-inch outlets and have a barrel size of not less than five and one-quarter
• All fire hydrants must be connected to and supplied by water mains of not less than eight inches in Water mains shall meet specifications established by the American Water Works Association. Fire hydrants are to be yellow (from the manufacturer) in accordance with NFPA 24.
• In apartment and residential developments, fire hydrants shall be placed at each street intersection and spaced intermittently not more than 500 feet apart, with additional fire hydrants located as necessary to permit all portions of buildings to be reached by hose lay of not more than 400
• In shopping centers and other commercial developments, fire hydrants shall be spaced not more than 300 feet apart with additional fire hydrants located as necessary so as to permit all portions of buildings to be reached by hose lays of not more than 300
• In commercial developments that are developed with streets, fire hydrants shall be placed at each street intersection with intermittent hydrants between intersections spaced not more than 300 feet apart, with additional hydrants located as necessary so as to permit all portions of buildings to be reached by hose lays of not more than 300
• Where possible water mains shall be interconnected or looped at intervals not exceeding 600 feet on eight-inch Where it is necessary to make dead end extensions from the water system, such extension shall be capable of providing an adequate fire flow at a static pressure of not less than 40 pounds per square inch and a residual pressure of not less than 20 pounds per square inch and such extension shall not exceed 1,500 feet on an eight-inch main.
• The location of fire hydrants, hydrant fittings, valves, threads and direction of opening shall be uniform, and shall be approved by the Fire Marshal
• A map indicating the size of mains and location of hydrants and valves shall be provided to the Fire Chief by the Developer prior to the installation of any water mains or the construction of any buildings in any
• Exceptions in fire hydrant placement re In rare cases, it may not

be practical either economically, physically, or both, to install the required fire hydrant(s) in an area. Examples include, but are not limited to, when a small number of dwellings/buildings are constructed on large acreage lots, or when the physical terrain is such that it is not economically prudent to construct the required water lines.

1. Any dwelling/building hereafter constructed or moved into the jurisdiction shall have an approved fire hydrant installed within 800 feet of the structure provided a water main of acceptable diameter is accessible within the same distance. This requirement shall be determined by the Fire Chief or his designee.  The individual obtaining the building permit will be required to acknowledge with their signature that they have been advised of the lack of a secured water source for firefighting operations in the event of a fire. 
2. No building permit, approval or other permission of any kind shall be issued for construction or development of any shopping center, commercial, apartment, or residential development which does not comply with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. Water mains and fire hydrants shall be installed, under water pressure, and ready for firefighting before any sheathing may be installed on walls and on roof of any building in a development.

FAQ’S

How do I become a Volunteer Firefighter or EMT?

We are always looking for great people who want to help our community by volunteering. Contact Fire Station #1 at 334-285-6707 from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday and ask how to become a volunteer or come to training on any Tuesday night at 7 pm at Fire Station #1 located at 3820 Grandview Road.

Fire & EMS Training

Training for Firefighters and EMT’s is every Tuesday night at 7 pm at Fire Station #1 located at 3820 Grandview Road.  All firefighting training starts in-house and progresses to outside courses. EMS training also is done in-house, but to receive an EMT license you must attend class at Trenholm Technical College in Montgomery to obtain certification.

CPR Classes

CPR classes are taught on an as needed basis for people in the community. Contact Lt. Dallas Dunlap at 334-285-6707 for details.

How do I get a copy of an incident report?

If you need a copy of an incident report or a Patient Care Report please bring a valid ID to Fire Station # 1 located at 3820 Grandview Road and speak with the Administrative Officer. Patient Care Reports can only be released to the patient or family with a notarized release due to HIPPA regulations.

Can I come to the fire station to have my blood pressure checked?

Yes.  Personnel at Fire Station #1, located at 3820 Grandview Road or Fire Station #3, located at 304 Deatsville Highway can check your blood pressure free of charge if they are not on an emergency call.

Will the Millbrook Fire Department fill my swimming pool?

No.  Residents may fill their own pools by contacting their Utilities Department to rent a water meter and fill the pool using a hydrant.  Hoses may be rented through local equipment rental vendors.

Another suggestion would be to contact a pool company and ask if they have a list of vendors who might be able to provide this service for you.

When an emergency vehicle is approaching with emergency lights and sirens, what should I do?

By law, you are required to pull to the right and stop. This allows fire apparatus to continue response safely and quickly.

Who do I contact about my ambulance service bill?

Since November of 2018, the Millbrook Fire Department has contracted with an outside agency to do our billing for transports. We do not charge if you have not been transported to an area hospital.

PPS, Inc. currently handles our billing. To contact them, call 877-288-8561 or visit them at www.ppsmedbill.com if you have insurance information you can drop it off at Fire Station #1, located at 3820 Grandview Road.

How do I get a burn permit?

Burn Permits are issued at Fire Station #1 located at 3820 Grandview Road or Station #3 located at 304 Deatsville Highway. Drop by either one of these locations between 8 am and 5 pm or give us a call 334-285-6707 and we will send someone out to inspect your burn pile.

Why do so many fire apparatuses respond to simple incidents?

Units are dispatched according to information received by Dispatch.  Many times the type of situation found upon arrival is very different from the situation dispatched. Part of responding to an emergency situation means being prepared to deal with the worst case scenario.  Discovering that we need more units upon arrival is often too late.  Experience has taught us that it’s better to have too much help than not enough.

Why do fire trucks with full lights and sirens go through red lights at intersections and then, after they go through, they turn off their lights and slow down?

Sometimes several units are dispatched to the same incident. When the first unit arrives on scene, they may assess the situation and inform the dispatcher they can handle the emergency.  All other responding units are then cancelled and put back into service, ready to take another call.

Why do firefighters cut holes in the roof of a building on fire?

This is called “ventilation.”  There are two basic reasons for ventilating the roof.  Dangerous gases and dark smoke accumulate in a burning building making it impossible for firefighters to see.  When a hole is made in the roof, smoke and gases escape because heat and smoke rise, this makes it much easier for the firefighters in the building to see.  It also reduces the possibilities of backdraft (an explosion of heated gases) and flashover (a quick transition to a fully developed fire).  Another reason is to see how far the fire has progressed. One of the fastest avenues through which fires spread is the attic. Heat and smoke rise into the attic where fire can move quickly. Firefighters may go ahead of the fire on a roof, cut holes to access the attic and stop the fire from spreading.

Why do I see firefighters breaking windows when a building is on fire?

Dangerous superheated gases need to be ventilated to allow firefighters to safely and quickly rescue trapped occupants and extinguish the fire.  By venting the window of a room that’s on fire actually helps to contain the fire to the room of origin. Otherwise heated gases spread throughout the inside of a structure. Breaking a window really prevents more damage than it appears to cause.

Why do fire trucks respond to motor vehicle accidents?

Automobile accidents present other hazards such as potential fire, ruptured fuel tanks, and/or the presence of hazardous materials. If any occupants are trapped, they will begin the extrication (removal) process.  Since most of our firefighters are also trained Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), they can begin assessing an injured party’s condition and assist in providing treatment prior to the arrival of ambulance personnel.

How do I schedule a tour of a fire station?

The Millbrook Fire Department welcomes the opportunity to have the public visit any of our stations.  If your school or civic group would like to schedule a tour, please call (334) 285-6707, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. You will be asked to provide a name, contact number, the number of participants and any date preferences.  A member of our department will contact you to schedule the tour. In addition to touring the station and viewing apparatus and equipment, fire personnel can also provide your group with age appropriate fire safety/fire prevention materials.

What about birthday parties?

Unfortunately, our fire stations are not set up to accommodate birthday parties. We can, however, schedule a tour for your group which has been scheduled separately from the party.