A new position taken on by Matt Abbott will benefit the citizens of Mendenhall. October 2 marked Abbott’s first day as the fire service coordinator and emergency operations coordinator for the city.
Abbott was previously the dispatcher supervisor for the Mendenhall Police department. He explained that he was working in emergency operations part time. He said, “The fire service coordinator position is now full time and it’s one of those situations where now is the time to do it.”
With the start of the new fiscal year, the implementation of the position was feasible. Mendenhall Fire Chief Wayne Walker previously appeared before the board to explain the need for the position and how it was necessary to improve the city’s fire rating. Abbott has worked in fire service for over 16 years and maintains multiple certifications which qualified him for the job.
He began his career in fire service after joining Pinola Fire Department as a volunteer in August of 2001. He has served in emergency services since 1998. The board ultimately approved his hire of as the fire coordinator.
Abbott said, “One of the things we are planning to accomplish with the position is that it aids in lowering our fire rating for the city. That helps to lower the insurance of everyone within our fire district.”
Abbott accepting the position was one of many steps taken to lower the city’s fire rating, which is currently an 8. “I fell into this job by accident. Our police chief sent me to one school and it expanded from there.” He said this sets up the fire department for the next phase.
Of his new responsibilities as fire service coordinator Abbott said, “I do everything from taking out the trash to suiting up and going on calls.” He also handles most of the administrative and logistics needs of the fire department which includes anything from filing incident reports to testing fire hydrants. Abbott is a certified hazmat technician and volunteer firefighter level 2. He explained that most of his recent training has been focused on emergency operations, and he currently holds all requirements for incident management systems.
He said, “I make sure we have everything we need to respond to a situation as best we can.” He defined a disaster as any incident that overwhelms your ability to respond.
The importance of his responsibilities is not lost on him, and he described taking on the new position as humbling. “There is a great deal of stuff to do and it is very humbling to have these things rested on me” said Abbott.
With no precedent to rely on, Matt looks to his fellow firefighters and city leadership for support. He said, “I’ve been in fire service for 16 years and we have a lot of amazing firemen here in Mendenhall that I can depend on.” He cited Charlie Validae, who holds the same position for Magee, and the Mayor and Board of Aldermen as being instrumental to his successful transition.
“It’s different to change hats and go from one thing to the next. I had an amazing team at the police department and was really blessed to have them,” said Abbott. This was the hardest part of the transition for him. Angie Fortenberry has replaced Abbott as dispatcher supervisor.
He said, “My job has always been my way to tell my witness and I try to keep that at the forefront as best I can.” Since taking on his new role, his favorite part of the job has been working with children. “I love being able to do stuff with kids like give them tours of the station and teach fire prevention.”
He spoke of an experience involving a kid peering through the windows of the station. Abbott said he opened the bay doors and offered to give him a tour. He said, “When I offered him a tour and he got to see everything, his eyes were so big.”
Those moments are dear to Abbott because they remind him of times he spent with his father at the fire station. His father, Austin Abbott, was also a firefighter, and was involved with law enforcement. A younger Matt would often find himself in the fire station asking “Hey, Dad, what‘s that for?” Many volunteer fire departments are known for generational firefighters where sons often followed fathers into fire service. He expressed how thankful he is to have the opportunity to follow in his father’s career and live somebody’s dream job.
Being a part of the fire department and city’s success is a gift in itself for Abbott. He said, “I am so fortunate to have ended up with the guys here. To me working here is the ultimate snapshot of America because if you call we’re coming.”
