Blaze of Glory: Longtime Russellville fire chief retires

FRANKLIN LIVING – November/December 2024 –

Story and photos by María Camp

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP – (Now retired) Russellville Fire Chief Joe Mansell receives a Distinguished Service Award.

For Russellville Fire Department Chief Joe Mansell, being a firefighter and chief has been much more than a job – it’s also been his passion. For Mansell, this 32-and-half-year chapter is coming to a close as the chief embraces a new adventure: retirement.

The move comes after the celebration commemorating 100 years of Russellville’s fire department.

“Chief Mansell and I started in the Russellville City School system in kindergarten together,” said Russellville Mayor David Grissom, “and we’ve been friends ever since. I have been fortunate to serve with him, and it’s been an honor. I’m certainly going to miss him. He’s done a great job and always kept the people of Russellville first. The fire safety program in our schools is just one example of the positive impact he’s had on our community.”

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP

During the department’s annual fire safety awareness activities at West Elementary, the chief received special recognition. Students made posters to show their appreciation, and Russellville City Schools assistant superintendent Dr. Chris James read a letter prepared on behalf of the school.

“Chief Mansell’s commitment to teaching our elementary students during Fire Safety Week has made a lasting impact on their lives,” James explained. “His fun lessons and hands-on demonstrations have helped students learn how to stay safe while also feeling more responsible. As a positive role model, Russellville City Schools is grateful for his efforts in shaping the future of our young learners.”

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP

The letter praises Mansell for his commitment to community safety. “Throughout the years, you’ve not only protected our families but have also taught us valuable lessons about fire safety and responsibility,” it reads in part. “You’ve shown us that being a hero isn’t just about wearing a uniform, but about caring for others and leading with kindness and courage.”

Mansell said the special day caught him by surprise. “I’m very appreciative of what they’ve done. It means so much to know that you mean something to the community. I got to watch my kids go through this (elementary fire safety awareness) program.”

He explained firefighters work 24 hours on, 48 hours off – which amounts to 800 more hours a year than someone who works a regular 40-hour week. In addition to the physical toll, he said it also means not always being able to do things like tuck their children in at night or otherwise be with family and friends.

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP

Mansell said the decision to retire came after a lot of reflection. He “knew it was time to pass this blessing off to somebody else,” though he will continue working as a part-time firefighter. “I had prayed about (retiring as chief), and it just felt right,” he said. “I’ve got great guys that work with me, and I’ve had a great administration that’s always supported the fire department.”

As to what he’ll miss most about being chief, Mansell said one thing is the ability go on every call. “I’ve always wanted to try to help the community that I love and be able to be there every day running these calls, so I guess that made me want to go into this, as far as being the chief.”

His passion for the job was so strong that he took the job as chief even though it initially meant making less money, as it meant giving up his second job. “After praying about it, it was just a blessing that the city trusted me enough to try to run a department,” Mansell explained. “A chief’s only as good as the guys, and if the chief thinks he can do it by himself, he’s wrong. He’s the voice between the guys and the mayor and the council, and it’s been an absolute blessing, even though it was a challenge at first.”

Mansell was 29 years when he became chief. “It was a learning experience for me,” he said. “I took over from Chief Harlon Hutcheson, and I have the utmost respect for him. He had the fire department going in the right direction, so I was able to just step in and kind of pick up and keep moving in that direction.”

Mansell said over the years the department has created numerous programs, including the ongoing smoke detector program to provide and install a smoke detector for those in the city who don’t have one. “We had some fatalities about the time I took over as chief,” Mansell explained, “and I wanted to get in there and do something where we got a smoke detector in every house in the City of Russellville, and so we’ve worked on that for years. Those living in Russellville who need a smoke detector should contact the Russellville Fire Department to arrange it.

“All I ever wanted to do was make sure we never had anybody to lose their life in a fire,” Mansell added, “and so that’s something we all bought into and got out and started working on it.”

Mansell said it’s been a “very successful program.” “That was one of the biggest things we got going,” he added. “We’ve received in excess of $4 million in grant money over the years, and we’ve built a new station and hired new men, increased staffing levels, and we’ve got all sorts of new gear.” Three new fire trucks are on order, with more growth and improvement on the horizon. “We worked with the school system years ago to get the land for station three, so we’ve already got that in the works, but it may be a little further down the road,” he explained. “Whoever comes in as the next chief should be set up for success. Everything’s laid out, ready to go. The equipment’s the best of the best, and I give all of my thanks to the mayor and the council for what they’ve done.”

Mansell added his appreciation for those in the department, including Justin Green, Randy Seal and Chris Watkins, who have written grants to help the fire department have the best equipment. “We’re also an Advanced Life Support department, so we do everything an ambulance does, but we just don’t transport – though we have in an emergency when an ambulance wasn’t around,” he said. “We were one of the first ALS departments in north Alabama, around 1992. This was the vision of the previous chief and existing department.”

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP

During Mansell’s tenure the fire department has improved from a Class Four ISO rating down to a Class Two rating; Class One is the highest rating. “We added a deputy chief position a few years ago, and the deputy chief is now in charge of the ISO and making sure we maintain that class,” he explained. “We’ve had a lot going on over the years, and we’ve just tried to be the best we could possibly be. I owe it all to these guys.”

During the course of his career one of his greatest accolades came in June 2022, when he received the distinction of being named the Alabama Career Fire Chief of the Year. That was “a big honor, one of the major achievements of my career,” explained Mansell.

RFD Deputy Chief Randy Seal said what sets Mansell apart as chief is the way he always takes care of the firefighters on the team. “He’s excelled our department tremendously from the years he’s been here,” Seal explained. “We went into a new station and got top-of-the-line equipment. He’s always looked forward, and he’s really community minded. He’s always wanting us to do more to help the community.”

Seal said Mansell will be “greatly missed,” noting he’s “been a great chief” and “the department’s done great under him.” Seal said they “hate to see him leave” but support him in his retirement as chief.

PHOTO BY MARÍA CAMP