Lay Lake Fire

10/15/2026

Congratulations to our youngest member, Shane Sherbert, on passing his National Registry exam and officially earning his National EMS Certification as an EMT-Basic!

Shane took his exam today and passed with flying colors. We could not be prouder of his hard work, dedication, and commitment to serving our community. Balancing school and the intense training required for this certification is no small feat, and Shane has stepped up in a massive way.

What This Means for Our Community

As a volunteer fire department, every single bit of extra training directly impacts the safety of our neighbors. By earning his EMT-B, Shane brings vital medical skills to our frontline response, ensuring that:

• Faster emergency medical care is available right here in our coverage area when minutes matter most.

• Our overall response capabilities are strengthened, keeping Lay Lake and our surrounding communities safer.

Please join us in the comments in congratulating Shane on this incredible achievement! We are lucky to have you on the team, Shane!

10/10/2026

We hope to see you all next Saturday for our annual Trunk-or-Treat 🎃

10/09/2026

As Hurricane Isaias approaches central Alabama, we want to ensure everyone in our community stays safe. A Tropical Storm Warning is currently in effect for our area, with major impacts expected tonight.

🚨 STORM SHELTER OPENING INFORMATION 🚨

Our community storm shelter will open tonight at 8:00 PM and will remain open until the severe weather completely passes through our area.

⚠️ IMPORTANT SAFETY REMINDER: Please plan ahead and leave early enough to arrive safely. Do not wait until the severe weather hits to travel. High wind gusts (55–65+ MPH) and heavy rain will make driving extremely hazardous after 10:00 PM.

What to Expect Tonight:

• 🗓️ Timing: The main severe weather window is from 10:00 PM Friday to 10:00 AM Saturday, with the greatest impacts hitting between 12:00 AM and 4:00 AM.

• 💨 Threats: Damaging wind gusts up to 65–70 MPH (which may cause downed trees and prolonged power outages), localized flooding from 2–4 inches of rainfall, and the potential for embedded tornadoes.

Please secure loose outdoor items, check on your neighbors, and make sure your emergency alerts are turned on. If you need a safe place to ride out the storm, our doors will be open starting at 8:00 PM.

Stay safe, Lay Lake! We are in this together.

09/26/2026

🚨 COMMUNITY UPDATE & THANK YOU 🚨

The Lay Lake Volunteer Fire Department and Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department are thrilled to announce an incredible update from this morning’s Fill the Boot drive!

With the permission of the beneficiary, Deanna Matson, we want to share that our amazing community stepped up big time today. Together, we raised $2,740 in just one morning!

Because of your overwhelming generosity, Deanna now has the full $4,000 needed for her surgery co-pay, plus extra funds to help support her during recovery. She will be out of work unpaid for at least three weeks, so these extra funds are a massive blessing.

A Message of Thanks from Deanna:
Deanna wants everyone to know that she is incredibly thankful for every single penny donated. Without each and every one of you, this surgery may not have been possible. While she is deeply grateful for the monetary support, she asks that you please keep the prayers coming, as they are also greatly appreciated!

Missed the drive but still want to help?

If you didn't get a chance to stop by this morning, you can still support Deanna as she prepares for surgery and her time away from work:

CashApp: $dmp2181

Her GoFundMe account is also still active.

Thank you again to everyone who dropped a donation into the boot today. We have the best community around! 🚒💪

09/26/2026

🚨COMMUNITY ALERT: HELP US FILL THE BOOT FOR DEANNA! 🚨

Our local first responder, mom, and hometown hero, Deanna Matson, has spent her life working 50–80 hours a week to save others with the Sylacauga Ambulance Service. Now, she needs our help. Deanna is facing a critical, life-saving surgery and needs to cover a $4,000 upfront copay.

We are out here today, Saturday, September 26, collecting donations to make sure she gets the medical care she needs. Together, we can make a difference!

📌 WHERE TO FIND US RIGHT NOW:
• Fayetteville: Childersburg Fayetteville Hwy, right in front of the Fayetteville Fire Department 🚒
• Talladega Springs: Talladega Springs Rd, right in front of the Dollar General 🛒
Drop by, say hello, and drop whatever you can into the boot. Every single dollar goes directly toward Deanna's surgery costs.

💻 CAN’T MAKE IT IN PERSON? YOU CAN STILL DONATE ONLINE:
• GoFundMe: gofund.me
• Cash App: $dmp2181
She has stood by our community during our hardest moments—let's stand by her for hers. Please share this post to help us spread the word!
Matson

09/23/2026

🚨OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOUR HELP TO SAVE A LIFESAVER🚨

If you live in Talladega County and have had to call 911 over the last year or so, there is a very high percentage chance that Deanna Matson was one of the EMTs who rushed to your door.

As a dedicated Mom and a first responder with the Sylacauga Ambulance Service, Deanna routinely works 50 to 80 hours a week. She has dedicated her life to being there for our community during our absolute darkest hours.

Now, Deanna is facing her own medical emergency, and it's our turn to answer the call for her. 🩺❤️

Deanna is currently fighting cancer and urgently needs a life-saving surgery to remove a tumor on her carotid artery.

However, before she can undergo the procedure, she must pay a $4,000 medical insurance co-pay up front. Despite working tireless hours, she simply does not have this money ready to go.

We cannot let a financial roadblock stand in the way of saving her life.

This Saturday, September 26th, local Volunteer Fire Departments and community volunteers will be stationed at various intersections across the area holding a BOOT DRIVE to collect funds for her. 100% of the money collected will go directly toward her surgery costs.

If you are able to give, please consider donating to help this incredible mom and first responder. If you cannot give financially, all prayers are deeply appreciated and desperately needed.
How you can support Deanna right now:
💵 CashApp: $dmp2181
💻 GoFundMe Link: gofund.me/72fe2e836

Please hit SHARE to help spread the word across Talladega County! Let's show Deanna that she isn't fighting this battle alone. 💪🚒🚑

09/19/2026

🚨 EVENT POSTPONEMENT NOTICE 🚨
Due to the threat of inclement weather, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our Annual Fire Department Trunk-or-Treat, originally scheduled for this Saturday, October 10th.
We are so sorry for this last-minute date change! However, everyone's safety is our absolute top priority, and we want to ensure this event is a fun, safe, and enjoyable experience for all of our trunk hosts and trick-or-treaters. 🎃👻
📅 New Date Announcement Coming Soon!
We are currently working to finalize the new date and expect it to be either next Saturday, October 17th, or Saturday, October 24th. We will post the official update here as soon as it is locked in.
Thank you so much for your understanding and continued support. Stay safe, and we look forward to seeing you all soon! 🚒🕸️

09/18/2026

Big congratulations to Firefighter Michael Roegner on earning his National EMS Certification as an EMT-B!

Michael’s hard work and dedication mean a massive upgrade for our volunteer fire department and our local community. In volunteer departments, every second counts. Having another certified EMT-B on our squad means we can immediately provide life-saving medical care directly at the scene of an emergency—well before an ambulance arrives.This achievement elevates capabilities, cuts down critical medical response times, and provides a stronger safety net for our neighbors when they need it most.

Thank you for your tireless commitment Michael. We are incredibly proud to have you on the team!

09/12/2026

We will never forget.

09/11/2026