March 10, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2008-16) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org FIRE OFFICIALS TO PROMOTE FOURTEEN FIREFIGHTERS As the City of Mobile grows and expands so must the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. Mobile Fire-Rescue Department will hold a promotion ceremony to take place at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 12 at the Saenger Theatre located at 6 Joachim Street in downtown Mobile. The department is opening a temporary fire station in front of the Mobile Regional Airport in the newly annexed area until a permanent station is built in the same general area. The department is also in the process of training additional firefighters to fill positions created with the addition of that station and the equipment that will operate out of it. As part of that growth the department is also adding an additional fire district going from three to four districts. The promotions, which will include the addition of four District Chiefs and ten Captains, will fill those newly created positions as well as other vacant positions in the department. The new station on Airport Boulevard will serve as district four headquarters. With the addition of the fourth district the department has also realigned district areas and reassigned stations accordingly. Since March of 2007 Fire Officials have promoted, including those today, three personnel to Deputy Chief, nine to District Chief, thirty-seven to Captain and have hired/trained thirty-eight new firefighters. Those being promoted to District Chief are: Charlie C. Carpenter, 42, over 13 years service Dexter F. Pettaway, 51, 21 years service Billy G. Roach, 50, over 17 years service David A. Rose, 56, over 24 years service Those being promoted to Captain are: J. Phillip Ballard, 30, 10 years service Bill L. Carroll, 48, 18 years service Karl A. Cowart, 48, 14 years service Gary T. Holbein, 40, 17 years service Ken H. Keller, Jr., 36, over 9 years service Terrome D. Rogers, 36, over 12 years service Terry L. Smith, 46, over 11 years service Tim E. Spyrka, 46, over 5 years service Kermit B. Watson, 40, over 13 years service Buddy L. Weaver, Jr., 47, over 16 years service ###