Town Creek's fire chief first woman to hold position in county

TOWN CREEK -- Donna Campbell never set out to become part of history.

But being the first female fire chief of the Town Creek Volunteer Fire Department is not easy to hide.

When she joined the town's fire department in 1990, she just wanted to take pictures.

"A group of firefighters talked me into joining the fire department and doing some photography during fires," said Campbell, who recently earned approval from council members to become fire chief.

Not only is she the first female fire chief in Lawrence County, she could be among the first in the north Alabama region. Her status in that category is still being researched.

"As far as anyone can tell, there hasn't been another (in Lawrence County)," she said.

Campbell is originally from Lancaster, Pa., but came to the Shoals for the same reason that many others did before her -- the music business.

She moved to the area in 1982 to work as a personal assistant to Shoals native Sue Richards, who spent many years in the music industry as a singer-songwriter. That job included work with country singer Tammy Wynette.

After six years with Richards, Campbell sought other opportunities. She ended up working in a local restaurant. She started working at another Town Creek restaurant where she later moved and got involved with the fire department.

"I never intended on fighting fires," said the 46-year-old Campbell.

She received her certification as an emergency management technician, and worked as a first responder for a few years. In 1997, she became a certified firefighter.

Campbell received certification in fire science from Northwest-Shoals Community College in May and is now working toward a degree in the field.

"She knows her stuff," said Mayor Ervin Nichols.

Council members made her acting chief in April after the former chief moved outside the city. The interim label has been removed.

She is well aware that she is breaking new ground as one of very few female fire chiefs in this part of the country. She is quick to point out, though, that women play an important role in Town Creek's department.

Fourteen of the 32 volunteers are women.

"We have a lot of husbands and wives in the department together," she said.

"We have a very good department. We all work together well and really are like one big family."

In the past, while serving as assistant chief, Campbell has been responsible for helping seek money for the department through grants. She expects that task to continue.

"We will be looking for all the grant money we can," she said. "I would like for us to get a new service truck soon. We have improved a lot over the years and everything we have is paid for."

Her first focus as chief is to reduce the city's Insurance Services Organization, or ISO, rating. The ratings are used to determine insurance costs in communities. Town Creek currently has a rating of seven.

"I would like to see us get down to five," she said, noting quickly that some residents could be paying more than they should already.

"One woman moved closer to town and the insurance company told her the rating was a 10," Campbell said. "That wasn't correct and we got it straightened out and that saved her money on her insurance."

Campbell works as a full-time dispatcher with Lawrence County 911 and also volunteers with the Courtland Volunteer Fire Department.

"I love it," she said. "I never thought that this is what I would be doing, but I love it."

Jonathan Willis can be reached at 332-0140 or jonathan.willis@timesdaily.com.