Vestavia Hills Fire Department Holds Rare ISO Class 1 Rating After Fleet Overhaul
Chief Marvin Green leads a 120-person department that recently completed a full vehicle replacement and opened a new training facility.
By Robert Marshall ·
Fewer than 1 percent of fire departments in the United States hold an ISO Class 1 rating, yet Vestavia Hills Fire Department secured the top grade from the Insurance Services Office in 2022. The rating, which evaluates staffing, training, water supply, and response capability, marked a change from the department's previous Class 2 status. Chief Marvin Green attributed the improvement to increased manpower and consistent administrative support.
Green has served as fire chief for nine years and has worked in the fire service for 30. He was named Alabama Fire Chief of the Year in 2024. In an anecdote he has shared at meetings, Green recalled presenting his award, an oversized championship belt, to city department heads. He told them he bet none of them had a belt like that, prompting laughter. He has not held a hose in active service since a condo fire in 2016, noting that his personnel prefer he remain in administration, though he still joins field work occasionally.
The department employs 120 individuals, with nine in administration and 111 on shift across five stations. The city has expanded its infrastructure in recent years. Over a three-year period, the department replaced its entire fleet, acquiring four engines, a ladder truck, and five medic trucks. Station 4 in Liberty Park is currently undergoing expansion to address growth on the city's east side. The expansion includes the addition of a ladder truck, an engine, and a rescue unit.
Green also oversaw the construction of a new training facility that includes a burn building. He stated that the facility allows crews to train while on duty rather than waiting for scheduled classes elsewhere. The project is a partnership with the Mountain Brook Fire Department. Green said the proximity of the training site improves the department's ability to serve residents.
Beyond the city limits, the Vestavia Hills heavy rescue team participates in swift water, confined space, rope, and trench rescue training. The team has deployed to Florida, North Carolina, and Texas via FEMA requests and the Alabama Mutual Aid System. Green helped establish a statewide consortium that facilitates the movement of personnel and equipment across county lines during disasters.
Deputy Chief Ryan Farrell, who has 22 years of service and grew up in Vestavia Hills, noted that administration supports field operations. He said this support allows the department to focus on station needs. Green's current objective is to build a sixth station. He identifies the primary challenge as patchwork growth, where uneven development stretches response times at the city's edges.
Green has no plans to retire. He continues to manage the department's operations and expansion from his office, which contains the championship belt he received in 2024.
