JONES CHAPEL, Ala. – The Jones Chapel Volunteer Fire Department recently acquired a newer fire truck, following a plan created back in 2022.
Chief Clint Thrasher said four years ago, the JCVFD began a five-year plan to start cycling through equipment that was beyond its lifespan and started creating goals for the future of the department.
“At that time we were spending an astronomical amount of money on truck maintenance trying to keep our fleet on the road,” Thrasher said. “Over the course of the last 4.5 years, we have replaced a 1979 pumper, 1984 pumper, 1989 pumper, 1976 mini pumper, 1981 brush truck and a 1998 medical truck. We are successfully transforming our fleet into not only a newer fleet, but also a safer fleet.”
Former Chief Micah Netherton promoted Thrasher to assistant chief in 2020 when he was elected as the chief, which pushed him to help make the department better.
“Micah is a great leader and mentor because he is an ‘old-school’ guy and came up in the fire department when times were tougher,” Thrasher said. “The forefathers of our department built this place with their bare hands and their own money. Not many of the original folks are still around, but they did it the hard way. They struggled and got this all started. Micah was instrumental in guiding me on doing it the right way.”
Thrasher said although his former leader was “old school,” he was also a believer in “new school” and was always open to what he brought to the table.
“He understood that we needed more and always had my back,” Thrasher said. “In 2022, Micah retired and I was elected chief. I’ve always had some farfetched ideas, but we as a team have made them happen. We could not be where we are with our community who supports us. Without our founders who got it started and our community to support us, we wouldn’t be here. I am proud to be a small part of this team that I consider my family. We haven’t arrived yet; we aren’t stopping – we are going to continue serving this community. When we look at major investments such as this new truck, we look at the future just like our founders did. When we looked at this truck, I explained that I expect this truck to last long enough for my kids to fight fire off of it.”
The new truck arrived on June 11, and for the guys of the JCVFD, it was a surprise delivery.
“My guys knew we were getting it, but they didn’t know when,” Thrasher said. “I just sent out a group text asking for help to unload something off a trailer.”
Thrasher shared that they formed a truck committee in January to start looking for one for their department.
“Our five-year plan consisted of buying a truck in 2026, once the loan was paid off on the first truck we purchased in 2022,” he said. “Throughout the last six months, the committee of six people including myself have looked at hundreds of trucks. This truck was located at a dealer in Sioux City, Iowa and was originally Engine 18 in Baltimore County, Maryland. It is a 2014 replacing a 1997 so it’s a great upgrade for our community. We voted to purchase it last week and worked out. Last week, we began doing paperwork with Peoples Bank and took delivery of the truck on Thursday, June 11.”
Thrasher shared that many vehicles in the department’s fleet have specialties, whether they are rescue or have other specifications.
“Some have rope gear or hazmat gear,” Thrasher said. “This truck will primarily be for fire response, but will be equipped with all the medical equipment that our medical trucks have as a rescue tool.”
For community members interesting in becoming volunteers, Thrasher said, “The only requirements we have is a clean background check, valid Alabama driver’s license and passing a drug screen. Once that is completed, new members will be trained during a probationary period to make sure they are capable of performing the tasks.”
He said the department also has fun.
“We train every Monday and have a lot of fun during that,” Thrasher said. “In years past, we have met together to watch ball games at the station and do potlucks. We have also had family night and a few movie nights at the station. Most of the members’ kids get together and have fun on Monday nights while the adults train. We had a fire department dove hunt and skeet shoot this year as well. We are a family oriented organization and encourage the spouses and kids of members to be present when they can.”
For more information or to join, email joneschapelfire@gmail.com, message the department on Facebook at Facebook/Jones Chapel Fire Department or call 256-747-3654. You can also stop by any Monday at 6:30 p.m. during training. The department is located at 96 County Road 940, Cullman, AL 35057.
