PERSONNEL

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Captain/EMT Dwight Pettry

Dwight, a St. Albans native, is the second in command of the fire department and also serves as the Fire Department Mechanic where he uses his skills and knowledge to maintain the fleet of apparatus. He also serves on the Water Rescue Team, and is a Haz-Mat Technician. In his spare time he enjoys camping, snow skiing, mountain biking. Currently serving as A-Shift Commander

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain /EMT John Philpott

John Philpott - John serves on the fire department Training Committee and is the department Safety Officer. John's father was also a retired firefighter for the department. John demonstrates exceptional enthusiasm for the fire service and likes to travel to other departments across the state and country to compare notes of operational tactics. John most recently deployed under FEMA for 4 weeks to the Louisiana and Texas region after hurricane Katrina to help in disaster relief. John is currently serving as C-Shift Commander.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Captain/EMT Eric Mitchell

Eric was raised in Fayette County, WV and started his fire service career in 1980 as a volunteer on Gauley Bridge Fire Dept. He attended Gauley Bridge Elem. and Jr. High and graduated from High School at Boomer Christian Academy. He worked at the Yeager Airport Fire Dept. approximately 5 years before being hired at St. Albans Fire Dept. in 1989. Eric is married and has one daughter. Eric enjoys ultra running which is 50 mile runs, photography, mountain biking and computers. Eric is assigned to Station 2 on B-Shift.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PERSONNEL

LINE OFFICERS

 

Lieutenant/EMT Kenny Romine

Kenny is a St. Albans native and a 1986 graduate of St. Albans High School. He has worked for the fire department since Feb, 1990. He serves on the Water Rescue Team and is also a Haz-Mat-Technician. In his spare time he enjoys hunting, camping and spending time with his wife and daughter.
 

 

 

 

 

Lieutenant/EMT Lance Carney

Lance Carney Graduated from Sissonville High School in 1999 joined the fire service at the Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department. He attended Virginia Tech. majoring in Building Construction. His hobbies are hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities. Lance is on the Training Committee and is a WVU Fire Service Instructor.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lieutenant/EMT Dan Taaffe

Dan, originally from Ohio where his family has a long history in the Fire Service, serves on the departments Haz-Mat Team. Dan is also a certified instructor for West Virginia University Fire Service Extension. In his spare time he likes to provide instruction to other departments in firefighting techniques and spend time with his two sons.

 

 

 

 

FIREFIGHTERS

 

Firefighter/EMT Jeremy Roncaglione

A very active member of his local church, he too is a native of St. Albans. Jeremy also is a member of the Water Rescue Team. In his spare time he likes to be with his wife and children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter/EMT Matt Poff

Matt decided to follow his father’s footsteps as well and enter the Fire Service. Boyd Poff, Matts father, is retired from the fire department. Matt enjoys Bluegrass music, he plays guitar and various other instruments. Matt has had two separate music CD’s released; one which was a Christmas music CD was a big hit locally. Matt is also on the Water Rescue Team and is an avid diver. He also enjoys mountain biking.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter/EMT Jerry Bostic

A 1980 graduate of St. Albans High School, Jerry joined the fire department in January 1999, he enjoys having the chance to help people in a positive way during their bad times. Jerry is active in running road races of many different distances and enjoy the outdoors greatly.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter/EMT Rex Eggleton

A St. Albans native, Rex is what you may refer to as a sports enthusiast. Following all sports very closely he can tell you exactly what is happening in any sport, he also coaches volleyball. Rex is a member of the Water Rescue Team
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter/EMT Brian Sharp

Brian a St. Albans native when hired enjoys playing a few rounds of golf. Brian enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters. Brian is a Haz-Mat Technician also.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter/EMT Jim Hill

A Cross Lanes native who began his fire service as a volunteer at Tyler Mountain Fire Department he has been with St. Albans since 2000. Jim likes to hunt and work with his company (Down to Earth Landscaping) on his days off. Jim has an Associates Degree from Potomac State College in horticulture. Jim serves on the Water Rescue Team and the department Training Committee. Jim is a WVU Fire Service Instructor.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter/EMT Andy Wooten

A 1996 graduate from St. Albans High School, Andy was active in Baseball and Football. Andy attended WV Tech with a major in Civil Engineering. Andy started his own business in 2000, (Appalachian Lawn & Landscaping) and still operates it on his days off. He enjoys riding Mountain Bikes and Camping with his new wife and dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter Jeff Davidson

After graduating from high school in 2000 I went in search of my true calling. I graduated from WV State University with a B.S. in Communications, helped start the Boys and Girls Club in St. Albans, was an on-air radio personality for the local radio station Electric 102.7, I even moved as far as Florida to work in Marine Rescue before realizing my passion was in front of me the whole time. Like my father, I was to become a firefighter. I enjoy WVU Football, playing guitar and spending time with my wife and family.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter Mike Lively
I am originally from Fayette County, West Virginia where I graduated from Oak Hill High School in 1995. I am married and have a son whom I enjoy spending time in outdoor activities and sports. I have always had a desire to be in the Fire Service to help people.

 

 

 

 

Firefighter Brandon Price
I am a native of St. Albans and graduated in 1996. I also attended West Virginia State College and graduated in 2002. I attended First Baptist Church in St. Albans with my wife and children. I enjoy spending my spare time with my wife and two boys.

 

 

 

 

 

  Firefighter Luke Adkins

Luke is an Elkview native, graduating from Hoover in "99."  He then moved to Lynchburg, Virginia to go to college at Liberty University; where he eventually was employed with the Lynchburg Fire Department.  He lived there for almost 10 years becoming a Technical Rescue Team Member, a peer fitness trainer for the fire department, and a published author in Virginia Fire and Rescue.  He has recently moved back home to West Virginia with his wife and son.  He enjoys spending time with family, the occasional speaking engagement at a local church, and any sports activity.


 

 

 

 

 

 Firefighter Chris Collins

 Before working in emergency services Chris worked as an area manager for a large tire distributor.  Chris wanted a career that would provide an   opportunity to help others and the fire service seemed to be a great way to do this. Chris has worked for Roane and Kanawha County EMS as an Emergency Medical Technician.  Chris enjoys spending time with his family, attending church, ATV riding and hunting/fishing.  Chris likes basbball and the Atlanta Braves and volunteers at his community volunteer fire department where he lives in Walton.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Firefighter E.M.T. Eric Tucker

    Originally from Tyler Mountain but now lives in the St. Albans area.  Is a former graduate of South Charleston High School.  Enjoys weight lifting,

 and running as well as spending time with his wife and children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTERS

Firefighter Joey Crawford

Also nicknamed "Battalion Chief 31", Joey has much enthusiasm for the fire service. Joey jumps at the chance to get out of the Police Officer role and help the fire department in time of crisis. Joey is a firefighter trapped in a police officers uniform. Joey is also a Scuba Diver and Haz-Mat Technician for the fire department. In his spare time he is an avid golfer and sings in his local church with a Praise Team.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Department Chaplain Mike Jarrett

Mike is the department Chaplain and is used in a manner that provides support services to both employees and the public. Mike oversees the Disaster Relief Program. This program provides temporary shelter, clothing, and food for victims of fires who are displaced. Mike also acts as a liaison between the Insurance Companies and the victims. Mike does his work behind the scenes but it is a much needed one. Mike is a member of the St. Albans Ministerial Association and is a licensed Minister and received his training at West Virginia School of Christian Studies through the WV Baptist Convention.

 

 

 

Firefighter/EMT Brian Hudson

Brian began his course in the fire service at Lakewood Fire Department while in high school. Brian is a Pre-Medicine student at Marshall University with a major in Biological Sciences and a minor in Psychology. His future plans are to graduate from medical school and practice emergency medicine in West Virginia.

 

 

 

 

Firefighter Robert Ely

I am a St. Albans native and graduated from St. Albans High School in 1999. I began my fire service at the West Side Volunteer Fire Department in 2005 and joined the St. Albans City Fire Department as a Paid-On-Call in 2006. Since 2007 I have been full-time with the City of Nitro Fire Department. I am also a Rescue Diver, Haz-Mat Technician with the WVRRT and USAR. I enjoy hunting and fishing in my spare time.

 

 

 

 

 

Firefighter Robby Paul

Robby is originally from Nitro and graduated from Poca High School in 1997. He started in the fire service with the Poca Volunteer Fire Department in 1996 and has since then been with other departments in Putnam and Kanawha County and has experienced many things in the fire service. Robby works full time for the Kanawha County Sheriffs Office in the Communications Division. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with wife and two children. He also enjoys hunting and fishing and just recently took up golf.

 

 

 

 

 

Floyd Keeney, Jr.

Floyd is a native of Kanawha County, WV.  He began his fire service career in 1996 with the Boomer Vol. Fire Dept., where he earned the rank of Captain.  Floyd joined the St. Albans Fire Department in 2007 as a Paid-On-Call Firefighter.  His advanced training includes Hazardous Materials Technician, Swift Water Rescue Operations as well as a BLS Instructor. He is a 1998 graduate of Valley High School and a 2004 graduate from WVU Tech with a B.S. in Printing Management.  In his spare time Floyd enjoys spending time with his wife and listening to bluegrass music.

 

 

 

 

FF Corey Garcia

 A Graduate of St. Albans High School, Corey started his fire service in June of 2006 with the Lakewood VFD.  He currently is employed full-time with the WV State Police and works part-time as a 911-Communicator.  Corey is working on his forensics degree and enjoys traveling and being in the outdoors.

 

 

 

 

 

 FF Chris Carter

 A 2009 graduate from St. Albans High School.  Chris played golf at a High School level and at the Collegiate level.  He began in the fire service in 2011 at the Lakewood VFD.  Currently he is employed at the City of St. Albans Municipal Utility Commission.  His goal is to become a full-time firefighter.  He enjoys hunting and fishing and spending time in the outdoors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Administrative Assistant Dee Canterbury

 

 

Chief / E.M.T. Stephen D. Parsons

Steve began his fire service career in the 1970’s as a volunteer in the Cross Lanes area. After working for the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Department for eight years he decided to pursue his first love full-time at the St. Albans Fire Department. The Fire Service is very rewarding because it provides you the opportunity to serve people and help them in a time of need. When not involved with the department he spends time cycling both on road and mountain bikes, hunting and working with the youth at his church.  Steve has traveled to Malawi, Africa twice as a Missionary to provide training to that country's firefighters. The country of 11 million has only four fire departments. While in Africa he also traveled to remote villages in Mozambique to help establish literacy projects. In April of 2010 he traveled to Haiti and was attached to the Delaware Medical Response Team in Jacmel where he supervised the triage of over 200 patients per day.  "The devastation has left a lasting impression", Chief parsons said.  He plans to visit again July of 2011 with a team from his church and will be building an orphanage for "Hands and Feet Project" in Grand Goave .