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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

The Chilton County Volunteer Firefighters Association has selected Isabella Volunteer Fire Department chief Brent Conway to receive its annual firefighter of the year award.

Each year, members of the association nominate firefighters for the recognition, and then a vote is taken.

“I am very humbled to receive this award, and I am honored to get the opportunity to serve our county and to serve the people in our county,” Conway said. “I am very grateful for every member of all fire departments and the service we all provide to our great county. “

Conway has served with the Isabella Fire Department since 1993, when he started as a junior firefighter. He has served as chief since 2009.

With growth in membership and upgrades in equipment that he was able to facilitate, the department improved the ISO rating for Isabella to 5. (The lower the number the better for ISO.)

“I want to personally thank him for his dedication that he (has) … as a volunteer for the county,” association president Butch Billingsley said of Conway. “The county needs more people like him.”

Conway has completed 28 certification classes at the Alabama Fire College. He also attended the National Fire Academy in Maryland to complete his incident command and control certification in 2017. Billingsley said Conway emphasizes the importance of training within his department.

“He spends a lot of his time over at the volunteer fire department away from his family, and it is very nice of his family to share him with the community,” Billingsley said.

Conway and his wife Kathie have one son, Colton.

Conway is also active with the association, and he will be a part of coordinating quarterly training that the association will offer this year.

For his paying job, Conway is a lieutenant for the Alabaster Fire Department.