Hoover Fire Department promotes eight officers, salutes six new retirees
The Hoover Fire Department today celebrated the promotion of eight firefighters who moved up in rank within the past year and saluted six new retirees.
The promotion ceremony was held in the Hoover Library Theatre, with officials present from the city of Hoover and other nearby fire departments and law enforcement agencies.
Three men have been promoted to battalion chief: Kevin Bentley, Neal DePiano and David Hambright. Timothy Lawson and Harold Rigsby are now captains, and Christopher Fulmer, Brian Hallman and Joey Harbarger Jr. are now lieutenants.
Here’s a bit more about each:
- Kevin Bentley joined the Hoover Fire Department in January 1997 and was promoted to lieutenant in April 2003, captain in February 2007 and battalion chief in January of this year. He is now serving as the department’s training officer.
- Neal DePiano joined the Fire Department in March 1986 and was promoted to lieutenant in August 1994, captain in February 2009 and battalion chief in April 2015. He is now the Battalion 1 shift commander.
- David Hambright joined the Fire Department in April 1990 and was promoted to lieutenant in August 2006, captain in January 2010 and battalion chief in January of this year. He is the department’s top emergency medical services officer.
- Timothy Lawson joined the Fire Department in March 1999 and was promoted to lieutenant in February 2010 and captain in January of this year. He oversees Hoover Fire Station No. 8 in Greystone.
- Harold Rigsby joined the Fire Department in March 1999 and was promoted to lieutenant in November 2008 and captain in April 2015. He oversees the new Hoover Fire Station No. 10 in Ross Bridge.
- Christopher Fulmer joined the Fire Department in February 2001 and was promoted to lieutenant in April 2015. He works at Hoover Fire Station No. 3 in Riverchase.
- Brian Hallman joined the Fire Department in March 1999 and was promoted to lieutenant in January 2016. He works at Hoover Fire Station No. 4 on Municipal Drive.
- Joey Harbarger joined the Fire Department in September 2001 and was promoted to lieutenant in October 2015. He works at Hoover Fire Station No. 2 at The Preserve and serves as a chaplain for the department.
Hoover fire Chief Chuck Wingate congratulated the eight officers and encouraged them to help the department move forward as it serves the public. “You’re the best and the brightest that this department has to offer,” Wingate said. “You have a world of knowledge. Please teach the new guys.”
The six retirees honored today had a combined 173 years in the fire service. They include:
- Former Battalion Chief Ben Allison, who retired after 40 years with the Hoover Fire Department.
- Former Lt. Rodger Cofer, who retired after 18 years with Hoover and is now working with the Birmingham Fire Department.
- Former fire/medic Robert Fisher, who retired after 31 years with the department.
- Former firefighter Michael Keyes, who retired after 30 years with the department.
- Former firefighter Steven Rawlins, who retired after 30 years with the department.
- Former fire/medic Bradley Wilson, who retired after 24 years with the department.
Wingate thanked each of them for their loyalty and service to the department and said while he’s happy they were able to retire, it will be hard to replace them and the skills and experience they brought to the job.
The department also paid tribute to retired Hoover fire Capt. Fred Barton, who retired in 2001 after 30 years in the fire service and died in August of last year. His wife, Mary, was present today and recognized at the ceremony.
Fire officials also acknowledged public safety awards given out by the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce in February. Senior Fire Inspector Ricky Linn was Hoover’s 2015 Firefighter of the Year, and Lawson was named 2015 Paramedic of the Year.
Wingate gave the Pediatric Burn Foundation of America and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center for Prostate Research each a check for $10,000 from the Hoover Public Safety Charity Foundation, and Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey presented the burn foundation with a $5,000 check from the city of Hoover. The burn foundation uses the money from Hoover for its Camp Conquest summer camp for children with serious burn injuries.
Ivey thanked the Hoover firefighters for the work they do for the residents and visitors to Hoover 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“When we need them, they’re always there for us,” Ivey said. “It’s not just what they do for pay. It’s what they do for the community.”
More photos were added to this post about 5 p.m.