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.
PERSONNEL
LINE OFFICERS
Lieutenant/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.
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.
FIREFIGHTERS
Firefighter Charles Smith
Charlie spends most of his spare time working at his Carpet Outlet he owns
and operates on his days off. Charlie a St. Albans Native is a 23 year fire
department veteran. Charlie loves to spend time with is children and
grandchildren.
Firefighter/EMT Brent Clevinger
A former full-time U.S. Marine, Brent now serves his country in the Air
National Guard 130th Air Lift Wing. Brent is one of the fire departments
rescue divers and he is also a Haz-Mat Technician. Brent is on the Kanawha
County Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM) Brent recently spent
6 weeks with the guard in the Katrina disaster area. He also has spent time
in the Middle East during the Iraq war.
Firefighter/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.
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 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. In his spare time he enjoys spending time in
his Pocahontas County camp with his family and girlfriend. Lance is on the
Training Committee and 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.
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
Carl Landers
Is a former resident of Winfield
he served on the Winfield Vol. F.D. before moving to St. Albans. In his
spare time he enjoys camping and fishing.
Firefighter Gary Scott
Firefighter Robert Ely
Firefighter Jeremy Barnes
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.
Last year Steve took 11 teenagers to Ozage, Oklahoma on a mission trip to
work on an Indian Reservation for a week. It was very educational and
rewarding.