Officers

This page is dedicated to the senior officers of the department- both past and present. The Chief and Assistant Chief are elected annually by the members of the department.

Fire Chief- Charles Black

Charles was elected to the position of chief in 2006. He has served with Priceville Fire Department since 1997. Prior to volunteering with Priceville Fire Department, he served as assistant chief with Talucah Fire Department, which is where he grew up. He currently serves as Shift Fire Chief at Ascend Materials in Decatur.  Here is a detailed list of his experience:

-Monsanto/Solutia Corporation Fire School Instructor
-Texas A&M Fire Field Instructor

-Solutia Fire Chief & Emergency Response Coordinator
-Solutia Hazmat Team

-Certifications:
                     NFPA 1081 Proboard Industrial Firefighter
                     Wildland Firefighter
                     Confined Space & High Angle Rescue NFPA 1006
                     HAZMAT Awareness & Operations
                     HAZMAT Technician
                     Hazardous Materials Tank Car Specialist,
                     Hazardous Materials Highway Emergency Response Specialist
                     Apparatus / Aerial Operator
                     National Registered EMT-B
                     Fire Inspector I
                     Fire Instructor I
                     Fire Investigator

-Other memberships:
                      Industrial Emergency Association Treasurer
                      Priceville Town Council member since 2008
                      Priceville Planning Commission & Park / Recreation Board

Assistant Chief- Clayton Hensley

Clayton was elected to the position of assistant chief in 2008. He has served on the department since 1996. Clayton also supports Priceville as a reserve police officer, protecting at many of the community's events (football games, school functions, on road patrol). Professionally, he repairs rescue equipment for NAFECO in Decatur. His certifications include:

Alabama Fire College:
160 Certification
Firefighter 2
Wildland Firefighter
Extrication Certification- Amkus Tools
ADPH Radiological Emergency Response Training
EVOC Certified

Texas A&M:
Industrial Firefighter
Aerial Apparatus Driver/Operator
Strategy and Tactics
Extrication Certification- Holmatro Tools

Police Officer:
Officer Survival for Patrol Officer
Morgan County Sheriff Dept Pepper Spray
Firearms Training Systems
DEA Methamphetamine Labs
Advanced Vehicle Stops Tactics
Taser Certification

Battalion Chief Station 1- Melvin Duran III

Melvin was in the position of captain from 1999 to 2011. He started serving with Priceville Fire Department in October of 1987. He currently works for Calpine Power in Decatur, as well as NAFECO. Through the years he has worked at Solutia Industries as an industrial firefighter and as an EMT for Hartselle Ambulance Service. He also served as President of the department's Executive Board from 1999 to 2011.
Schools attended:
Alabama State Fire College:
ISO Grading Process and FF I

Texas A&M Fire College:
Aerial Apparatus Certification, Incident Command, Strategy and Tactics, Industrial Firefighter, Confined Space Rescue, High Angle Rescue, HAZMAT

Rural Metro Mobile:
Industrial Fire Fighter, Confined Space Rescue

Wallace State Community College:
Basic and Intermediate Level Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic

Battalion Chief Station 2- Todd Mehl

Todd started volunteer firefighting in 1994 with Kissimmee Heights Fire and Rescue in Kissimmee, FL. After 9 months he enlisted in the US Navy and that had him traveling. Volunteering when he could, he served at Kingsland Fire and Rescue in Kingsland, GA and C&B Fire Department in Ladson, SC. He started with Priceville Fire in 2006. Todd currently works at Nucor Steel in Decatur as an electrician. His certifications include:

Volunteer Firefighter (160)
Firefighter II
Apparatus Operator Pumper
Fire Instructor I
Live Fire Instructor
HAZMAT Awareness & Operations
Healthcare Provider CPR Instructor
Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
RERO
ARIO
NIMS 100, 200, 700, & 800

EMS Battalion Chief- Brandon Hawkins

Brandon is responsible for all of the EMTs within the fire department. He has been serving the community with the department since 1992. He is a maintenance electrician for Qualitest Pharmaceuticals in Huntsville. His certifications include:

Volunteer Firefighter (160)
Wildland Firefighter
Healthcare Provider CPR Instructor
Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
Emergency Vehicle Operator
Farm Safety Program
Industrial Firefighting
Industrial Strategy and Tactics
Extrication
Post Aircraft Accident Response

Battalion Chief - Allen Reed

Allen started serving with the Priceville Fire Department in 1999. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2005. Currently he works at Ascend Materials in Decatur. He serves on their Emergency Response Team and is the Captain and Lead EMT on C-shift.

Volunteer Firefighter (160)
NFPA 1081 ProBoard Industrial Firefighter
HAZMAT Awareness & Operations
HAZMAT Technician
HAZMAT Highway Emergency Response Spc
Healthcare Provider CPR
Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
Emergency Vehicle Operator
NIMS 100, 200, 700, & 800

Battalion Chief - Alex White

Alex first joined the department through our junior firefighter program in 2008. He has since joined the United States Marine Corps and completed a tour in Afghanistan. After the Marines, he came back to Priceville Fire and he has served honorably since. In 2017, he completed EMT training as well as firefighter I and II. Currently, he is a career firefighter with Huntsville Fire and Rescue. Alex previously worked as a firefighter for Hartselle Fire. He has also served on the Board of Directors since 2017. His certifications include:

Firefighter I
Firefighter II
Apparatus Operator Pumper
RIT 40-hour
HAZMAT Technician
HAZMAT Awareness & Operations
Healthcare Provider CPR
Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
Emergency Vehicle Operator
NIMS 100, 200, 700, & 800

Fire Chief (Retired)- Johnny Hawkins

Johnny has served on Priceville Fire Department since it's inception in 1973. In 1980, he was elected and re-elected chief for 26 years and helped the department grow to the size it is now. In 2010 Johnny retired from 3M in Decatur, where he worked as a lead operator, as well as with the City of Priceville itself.

Fire Chief (Retired)- Bill Robinson

Bill Robinson is one of the founding members of Priceville Fire Department. He has served with the department since it's inception in 1973. Bill started out his career as a Seabee, the US Navy's combat construction force.

Assistant Fire Chief (Retired)- Larry Waddell

Larry started serving with the Priceville Fire Department in 1986. Over the years he assumed the positions of Board Member, Assistant Chief, and Captain. Currently he works at Ascend Materials in Decatur. He serves on their Emergency Response Team and Lead EMT on B-shift. In 2008 Larry was elected to the Priceville Town Council. He retired as a Lifetime Member in 2013.