Gadsden Fire Department

10/23/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Update on Fire Department Operations

Gadsden, AL | October 22, 2026

The Gadsden Fire Department has scaled back its operations at the scene of today’s commercial fire in the Alabama City area. While the incident has been brought under control, fire department personnel will remain on scene throughout the night to monitor conditions and address any remaining hot spots.

All roadways and travel lanes previously closed due to the incident have now reopened to normal traffic. Additionally, all evacuation orders have been lifted, and residents who were displaced as a precaution may safely return to their homes.

The Gadsden Fire Department would like to thank the public for their patience and cooperation throughout this incident. We also extend our appreciation to all responding agencies and personnel who assisted in bringing the incident under control.

The safety of our residents and emergency responders remains our top priority. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

10/22/2026

🚨 URGENT: LARGE FIRE – AVOID THE AREA! 🚨

The Gadsden Fire Department is operating at a large fire near 35th Street and West Meighan Boulevard.

West Meighan Boulevard is CLOSED. Drivers are urged to seek an alternate route and avoid the area due to the large emergency response.

Please use caution, follow directions from emergency personnel, and allow emergency crews room to operate safely.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Gadsden Fire Department

10/19/2026

Gadsden Fire Department Responds to East Gadsden Structure Fire

The Gadsden Fire Department responded to a structure fire on the east side of Gadsden. First-arriving units reported smoke and flames visible from a manufactured home. Firefighters immediately initiated an aggressive interior attack and quickly extinguished the fire, limiting further damage to the home. The occupants had safely evacuated before firefighters arrived, and no injuries were reported. The American Red Cross was notified to assist the occupants with any needs resulting from the fire.

Responding Gadsden Fire Department units included Engine 3, Truck 20, Engine 1, Rescue 1, Engine 6, Engine 8, Rescue 2, and Battalion 2. TheGadsden Police Department, Glencoe Fire Department , and Alabama Power also responded. Glencoe responded under an automatic mutual aid agreement, highlighting the importance of cooperation between neighboring communities and ensuring additional resources are available when needed. These partnerships help both communities better protect the lives and property of the citizens they serve. 10/18/26.

10/13/2026

Gadsden Fire Department Responds to High-Angle Rescue at Noccalula Falls Park

The Gadsden Fire Department responded today to a high-angle rescue at Noccalula Falls Park and Campground after a visitor experienced chest pain while hiking in the gorge. Rescues in this rugged terrain present unique challenges, requiring specialized equipment, technical expertise, and a coordinated response from multiple personnel and agencies. Technical rescues are manpower-intensive operations that often require numerous firefighters and emergency responders to safely reach, assess, and remove a patient from difficult-to-access locations while ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

This incident came shortly after the Gadsden Fire Department hosted a Technical Rescue Personnel Rope Awareness and Operations course in conjunction with Alabama Fire College. Today, some of the personnel who participated in that training had the opportunity to put their knowledge and skills to use in a real-world emergency. This is an excellent example of how ongoing training and preparation help our personnel respond to challenging incidents and serve our community and visitors safely and effectively.

Responding Gadsden Fire Department units and personnel included Engine 5, Quint 4, Engine 7, Rescue 1, Medic 1, Training Officer, Fire Marshals 1 and 2, Battalion Chief 2, and Chief Brown. Additional responding agencies and personnel included Advantage EMS Ambulance 1 and staff from Noccalula Falls Park and Campground. We appreciate the coordinated efforts of everyone involved in this challenging rescue operation.
10/12/26

10/11/2026

10/10/2026

Structure Fire on Gadsden’s West Side

This morning, the Gadsden Fire Department responded to a structure fire on the west side of Gadsden. Upon arrival, firefighters found the structure fully involved in fire. Crews quickly deployed master streams to deliver large volumes of water and bring the fire under control. The intensity of the fire also resulted in heat damage to the homes on both sides of the burning structure, highlighting the danger these incidents pose to neighboring properties.

Fires of this magnitude are challenging under any conditions, but strong winds can make them especially dangerous and difficult to control. Wind-driven fires can intensify flames, push heat toward nearby structures, and carry burning embers ahead of the fire. Downed, energized power lines at the scene further complicated firefighting operations, creating additional electrical hazards for responding personnel. Strong winds and gusts associated with tropical weather systems can increase these challenges, making fire control and the protection of nearby homes even more difficult. Rapid deployment of master streams and coordinated firefighting operations are critical to controlling the fire while protecting firefighters and surrounding properties.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
10/10/26

10/09/2026

This week, the Gadsden Fire Department was proud to host firefighters from Gadsden, Rainbow City, Anniston, and Scottsboro for the Alabama Fire College’s Technical Rescue Personnel: Rope Awareness & Operations course.

This hands-on training focused on building the skills needed to safely and effectively respond to technical rope rescue emergencies.

We appreciate everyone who participated and the opportunity to train alongside our neighboring departments.

10/08/2026

Please be aware that there will be a fire presence at the Falls today and tomorrow due to the Gadsden Fire Department hosting the Alabama Fire College’s Technical Rescue Personnel: Rope Awareness and Operations. 🚒👨🏻‍🚒

We’re proud to offer our park to support continued training and stronger rescue capabilities across our region! We are grateful to all of our first responders!

10/08/2026

Technical Rescue Training at Noccalula Falls!

The Gadsden Fire Department is proud to host the Alabama Fire College’s Technical Rescue Personnel: Rope Awareness and Operations course today and tomorrow at Noccalula Falls.

This hands-on training provides firefighters with valuable skills and experience to safely respond to technical rescue emergencies.

We’re proud to support continued training and stronger rescue capabilities across our region!