Dogtown Fire Department Brings Home State Championship at AAVFD Firefighter Competition

49th Annual Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD) Conference and Firefighter Competition; Dogtown Fire Department brings home overall championship title.

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Local News

MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala. — Members of Dogtown Fire Department proudly represented their department during the 49th Annual Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD) Conference and Firefighter Competition held June 11-13 in Muscle Shoals, bringing home the overall championship title against some of Alabama’s dedicated volunteer fire departments.

Seven teams from across the state competed in Saturday’s firefighter competition, including Dogtown Fire Department Team No. 1, Dogtown Fire Department Team No. 2, Seven Hills Fire District, Elkmont Volunteer Fire Department, Billingsley Volunteer Fire Department, Nitrate City Volunteer Fire Department, and New Bethel Fire Department.

When the competition concluded, Dogtown Fire Department Team No. 1 earned first place in every event and captured first place overall, making them the top firefighter competition team at this year’s conference.

The victory also marked the third consecutive year that Dogtown Fire Department has brought the state championship trophy home, continuing a tradition of excellence that has made the department one of the top competitors in Alabama’s volunteer fire service.

Seven Hills Fire District finished second overall, while Elkmont Volunteer Fire Department earned third-place honors. Elkmont Volunteer Fire Department was also presented with the AAVFD Auxiliary Sportsmanship Award.

In addition to the department’s success in competition, Dogtown Fire Department also celebrated the accomplishment of one of its younger members during the conference.

Nevaeh Wagner was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD), recognizing her dedication to the fire service and commitment to furthering her education.

Wagner is the daughter of Assistant Chief Jeffery Wagner and department member Latasha Wagner. While she has officially been a member of the department for a little over a year, she has spent much of her life around the department, growing up in the fire service alongside the members who serve their community.

A 2026 graduate of Fort Payne High School, Wagner plans to attend Northeast Alabama Community College, where she will pursue a degree in nursing. After earning her associate degree, she plans to transfer to Jacksonville State University to continue her education and work toward a healthcare career.

The scholarship serves as a reflection of Wagner’s dedication to service, education, and the future of her community, while also highlighting the important role volunteer fire departments play in mentoring and supporting the next generation.

Dogtown Fire Chief Jon Burt praised the dedication and hard work displayed by members of the department and emphasized the importance of bringing two teams to this year’s competition.

“This past weekend members from Dogtown Fire traveled to Colbert County to attend and compete in the 49th Annual Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments Conference and Firefighter Competition,” Burt said. “First and foremost, I want to say I’m very proud of this group from Dogtown Fire and all the hard work and time spent making our teams the best.”

Burt explained that entering two teams allowed newer members to gain valuable experience while competing alongside seasoned firefighters.

“We put two teams in this year to get new members some experience in how the competition works,” he said.

The chief also commended the efforts of every department that participated in the competition.

“Each team did an outstanding job, showing great competition and sportsmanship,” Burt said.

While Dogtown Team No. 1 swept the competition by earning first place in each event and first place overall, Burt noted that the competition continues to grow stronger each year.

“Elkmont has issued fair warning they are gunning for the top spot next year, and Seven Hills is right behind them. It should be a great competition for the 50th anniversary,” Burt said.

He concluded by thanking the members of Dogtown Fire Department for their commitment to training, teamwork, and service.

“Again, thank you to all of you from Dogtown for everything you do,” Burt said.

The firefighter competition remains one of the most anticipated events of the annual AAVFD Conference, testing participants’ skills, teamwork, speed, and efficiency in scenarios designed to reflect real-world firefighting operations.

For Dogtown Fire Department, the victory serves as a testament to the countless hours spent training and preparing to protect the communities they serve.

As the department celebrates this year’s championship, firefighters are already looking ahead to the 50th Annual AAVFD Conference and Firefighter Competition, which will be hosted next year in Tuscaloosa by the Alabama Fire College.

For the members of Dogtown Fire Department, the goal remains the same — continue training, continue serving, and continue representing their department with pride while building on a championship tradition that now spans three consecutive years.

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