Meet the Chief

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Fire Chief Wayne Shirley

Wayne ShirleyChief Wayne Shirley has called Chelsea his home his entire life. He graduated from Chelsea High School in 1984, and he began as a volunteer with Chelsea Fire and Rescue in 1981. He continued to pursue his interest in the fire service and completed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic training in 1986 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He is currently experiencing his 37th year in the fire service and is now into his 17th year as Fire Chief. He is the City of Chelsea's first and only municipal Fire Chief.

Wayne Shirley has proudly been serving the City of Chelsea as Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator since 2001. Through his leadership he has helped guide Chelsea Fire and Rescue to a city department that excels in fire service, emergency medical services featuring advanced life support with patient transport capabilities, and sophisticated weather monitoring with an outdoor warning system. He currently serves as a contract instructor for the prestigious National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He also serves as an adjunct instructor for the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa.

  1. Education & Accreditation
  2. Community Involvement
  3. Family & Hobbies

Chief Shirley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science Administration and an Associate’s degree of Applied Science in Fire Science Management. He holds state and national accreditation as a Professional Firefighter and a Paramedic. He has obtained certificates in:

  • Administration of Public Assistance for Community Recovery
  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support - Provider
  • Apparatus Operator - Pumper
  • Basic Life Support - Provider
  • Building Construction for the Fire Service
  • Communications for Emergency Services
  • Crash Victim Extrication
  • Emergency Response to Terrorism
  • Executive Analysis of Community Risk Reduction - A Policy Approach
  • Executive Development
  • Executive Planning
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency:
    • IS-100
    • IS-200
    • IS-300
    • IS-400
    • IS-700
    • IS-701
    • IS-702
    • IS-703A
    • IS-704
    • IS-800
  • Federal Signal Corporation - Outdoor Warning Siren Technician
  • Fire Cause Determination
  • Fire Combat - Tactics and Strategy
  • Fire Inspector I
  • Fire Officer I, II, III and IV
  • Firefighter I and II
  • Hazardous Materials - Awareness
  • Hazardous Materials - Incident Analysis
  • Hazardous Materials - Technician and Specialist
  • Incident Command System
  • Instructor I and II
  • International Trauma Life Support - Provider
  • Interpersonal Dynamics
  • Management of Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
  • Managing Company Tactical Operations
  • Operations and Incident Commander
  • Safety Officer - Health and Safety and Incident Safety
  • Strategy and Tactics for Initial Company Operations
  • Technology for Emergency Services
  • Telecommunicator I and II
  • Training Program Management

Chief Shirley also maintains professional memberships with:

  • Alabama Association of Emergency Managers
  • Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments
  • Alabama Fire Chief's Association (Legislative Committee)
  • Central Alabama Fire Chief's Association
  • International Association of Fire Chiefs
  • National Fire Academy - Alumni Association
  • Shelby County Fire and EMS Association
  • Shelby County Local Emergency Planning Committee
  • Southeastern Association of Fire Chief's (Membership Committee)