Cahaba Valley Fire and EMR District

10/30/2026

10/30/2026

🍂⏰ DON’T FORGET TO FALL BACK!

Daylight saving time ends this Sunday, November 1! Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night and enjoy that extra hour of sleep. 💤

As we adjust to earlier sunsets and longer evenings, Cahaba Valley Fire District encourages everyone to take a few minutes to focus on safety:

🚗 Drive safely. It will get darker earlier, so use your headlights, slow down when needed, and watch for pedestrians, cyclists, and wildlife.

🚨 Check your smoke alarms. Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they’re working properly. Replace batteries if needed, and replace any expired devices according to the manufacturer's instructions.

🏠 Practice fire safety at home. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn, never leave cooking unattended, and turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed.

🛌 Get some rest. Take advantage of the extra hour to recharge and help keep yourself alert and ready for the week ahead.

🍂 A simple time change is also a great reminder to check in on your family's safety preparedness!

From our family at Cahaba Valley Fire District to yours, stay safe and enjoy the extra hour!

🚒 Safety never takes a day off.

10/26/2026

🔥 Clean it. Inspect it. Then light it.

Cooler nights are here, and many of us are getting ready for the first fire of the season. Before you light it, make sure your chimney is ready.

Burning wood leaves creosote, a flammable residue that builds up inside your chimney. Over time it can ignite and cause a dangerous chimney fire. An inspection can also find cracks, animal nests and damaged liners that put your home at risk.

✅ Have your chimney cleaned and inspected by a qualified professional every year
✅ Burn only dry, seasoned wood
✅ Use a sturdy fireplace screen and keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away
✅ Never leave a fire unattended, and make sure it’s fully out before bed
✅ Put cooled ashes in a metal container with a lid, stored outside away from the house
✅ Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Signs of a chimney fire: loud roaring or rumbling, popping and cracking, thick smoke, a strong hot smell, or flames coming from the top of the chimney.

🚨 If you suspect a chimney fire: GET OUT. CALL 911. STAY OUT. Call from outside, and don’t use the fireplace again until a professional has inspected it.

10/26/2026

⚠️ SAFETY RECALL NOTICE: HotHands® Rechargeable Hand Warmers ⚠️

ATTENTION CONSUMERS: Kobayashi Consumer Products, LLC, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), is voluntarily recalling HotHands® Rechargeable Hand Warmers (Model H163650) due to potential lithium-ion battery overheating and fire hazards.

🛑 WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
1️⃣ Stop using the product immediately.
2️⃣ Check the underside of your device to verify if the Model Number is H163650. (Note: Air-activated HotHands warmers are NOT affected).
3️⃣ Register your product to submit a recall claim for a full refund.
4️⃣ Do NOT dispose of the device in household trash, curbside recycling, or retail battery drop boxes. Check with your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) center for proper disposal instructions.

📞 Questions or Need Help?
• Phone: 866-534-9986 (Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM ET)
• Email: [email protected]
Please share this post to help keep friends and family safe! 👥👇

Click the link for more information
https://share.google/MPeD0jQA0nWyptFwg

10/23/2026

Just turned the heat on and noticed a funny smell? 👃 You’re not alone!

That first start-up of the season burns off dust that settled on your furnace or heater over the summer. A brief dusty, burning odor is normal. Crack a window and it should fade soon.

If the smell lingers, turn the unit off and call a technician. Don’t wait it out. 🔧

Cold-weather checklist:
🔹 Service your furnace every year
🔹 Change your filter
🔹 Keep anything that can burn 3 feet away from heaters
🔹 Plug space heaters directly into the wall outlet

And remember: if you see smoke, smell gas, or your CO alarm sounds, get out, call 911, and stay out. Call from outside and don’t go back in until firefighters say it’s safe. 🚒

10/21/2026

Cahaba Valley Fire District is proud to congratulate Alexander Hamilton on passing the National Registry exam and earning his Advanced EMT license in late September.

Alex joined Cahaba Valley in January and is currently assigned to C-Shift at Station 185 in the Narrows. Well done, Alex. We’re proud to have you on the team!

10/16/2026

— For Immediate Release—

Cahaba Valley Fire District Station 181 Returns to Service Following Renovation

Shelby County, Ala. — October 15, 2026 — Cahaba Valley Fire District is pleased to announce that Station 181, located at 5487 Highway 280, is back in operation now that its renovation is finished. Crews began answering calls from the station at 4:00 p.m. today. The renovation updates the station so it can keep serving the community well for years to come.

“We’re excited to have our crews back home at Station 181,” said Buddy Wilks, Fire Chief of Cahaba Valley Fire District. “This renovation is an investment in our firefighters and in our community we serve, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.”

Cahaba Valley Fire District thanks Maxus Construction for completing the project with minimal delays. Their professionalism and commitment helped return the station to service efficiently.

The District also expresses its gratitude to North Shelby Fire Department for letting Cahaba Valley crews operate out of North Shelby’s Station 73 during the renovation. This partnership kept response times steady for residents throughout the project and shows the strong working relationship between neighboring fire districts.

Cahaba Valley Fire District plans to hold an official grand reopening and open house at Station 181. Details will be announced soon.

About Cahaba Valley Fire District
The Cahaba Valley Fire District provides fire suppression and emergency medical services, including transport, to approximately 25,000 customers and thousands of drivers traveling the Highway 280 corridor each day.

Media Contact:
Russell C. Bradley, Captain
Cahaba Valley Fire District
[email protected]
205-991-6664 Main
205-863-3237 Direct
205-991-0831 Fax

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10/13/2026

These little ones always make our job easy. The childcare staff does an excellent job teaching fire safety early.

10/10/2026

⚡🔥 FIRE PREVENTION WEEK 2026 🔥⚡
CHARGE INTO FIRE SAFETY: SAFE CHARGING IS A SUPERPOWER!

Charge on a hard, flat surface like a table, desk, or floor. Beds, couches, and pillows can trap heat and block airflow, which can cause a battery to overheat.
For more info: fpw.org.

10/10/2026