SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – Questions have been raised recently about sleeping conditions at one Spanish Fort fire station. The topic came up at a mayoral and city council candidate forum at which time Spanish Fort mayor, Mike McMillan denied any knowledge of the issue. The allegations claim firefighters are being forced to sleep on the floor.
The City of Spanish Fort transitioned its fire department from a mostly volunteer force to a full city run department about two years ago. Since then, each of the city’s three fire stations became manned 24/7, including little Fire Station # 4 off Jimmy Faulkner Boulevard. Why it’s called Station 4 when there are only three is another story. The station was initially built to help improve the department’s ISO rating and wasn’t designed to house firefighters.
“As we have added more personnel, which is out goal…to have a complete shift at every station, it became a manned facility and we accomplished that by moving in some recliners and mattresses and things to take care of the firefighters,” explained Spanish Fort mayor, Mike McMillan.
At a recent mayoral candidate forum, McMillan’s challenger, Brad Bass, questioned those conditions at Fire Station # 4, alleging firefighters were forced to sleep on the floor. Currently, crews at Fire Station # 4 work and sleep in a small, wooden shed-style building adjacent to the metal firehouse…