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OUR HISTORY
WARRIOR RIVER FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE, INC.
11283 Camp Oliver Road, (Warrior River) Adger, Al 35006
Initial effort began in the Fall of 1993 contacting our Jefferson County Commission regarding fire/medic protection for our Class 10 neighborhood. Our commissioner pledged to assist contingent upon getting organized in a fashion to help ourselves finance this project.
A community meeting was held March 1994 to inquire of the residents if they desired fire and medic protection – the response was a resounding “yes”. A formal petition of the residents’ signatures was prepared requesting a neighboring fire district to annex our neighborhood. The first response was affirmative, based on funding provided by our area.
Community Fire Development, Inc., a non-profit 502. © 3 corporation was formed in 1994 for the sole purpose of raising money to construct and equip a fire station on 3 acres of donated land. However, 1996 brought changes and annexation was no longer an option. We were established in our fund raising, therefore a decision was made to continue in our efforts, we couldn’t stop now. Protection was desperately needed. Our Commissioner continued her support as we made progress.
Fund raising events in the beginning were of the usual nature, i.e., suppers, raffles, turkey shoots (a southern tradition for rural areas), roadblocks, carnivals. One unique event was picking up trash on the roadside for hire during tow summers. HOT. Five volunteer workers (three of them women) cut, split, and delivered firewood during two winters Cold. We did a lot of begging along the way. What we could not get donated, we had to earn the money and pay. Our big break in fundraising came in 1997 when a retail sales representative contacted Community Fire Development, Inc. offering new surplus items for us to sell. This proved to be our most lucrative and stable event for making money. This “yard sale” was held twice a month for 4 ½ years; we made money, lots of it. All the while, we were in our construction phase.
Through the years, there were seven individuals who remained loyal and dedicated to fund raising. Personal plans were scheduled around events. Enlisting the help of friends and relatives outside our community was commonplace. We held an old fashioned “barn raising” to “skin” the steel framing. We had food, music and fun to celebrate. Once we had the shell of the building, a volunteer crew of six was responsible for interior framing. Specialized craftsmen were hired for completion.
A volunteer temporary board of directors legally organized the department, WARRIOR RIVER FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE, INC. and secured proper registrations and non-profit 501-c-(3) status from IRS.
Community Fire Development, Inc. purchased an immaculate 1983 Mack pumper in 2002 when the building was complete enough for housing. Basic EMS equipment was purchased. An application was prepared for a FEMA grant in the amount of $47,545.00 and awarded July 2002. Heat/AC, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, carpet, tile, appliances, furniture, were purchased.
The Fall of 2002 was the season it all came together; final inspection of the building, election of permanent directors on a 5-yr rotating basis, hiring the fire chief who assembled a staff of volunteers. December 2002, the assets of Community Fire Development, Inc., - land & building (appraised value of $354,000.00 mortgage-free), fire fighting equipment, EMS equipments $47,564.00, furnishings, and $100,000.00 operating capital transferred to the board of directors of Warrior River Fire & Rescue to administer their duties of the department. In addition, an application was filed and granted from FEMA for $47,545.00 summer of 2002.
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