Lee stepping down as paid fireman

The town of Flomaton will soon be advertising to hire a full time fireman after Jeremy Lee announced Wednesday that he was resigning his position to take another job, but Lee said he will continue to serve Flomaton as a volunteer fireman.

Lee is currently the only full-time paid fireman in Flomaton with the rest of the department being made up with volunteers.

"I appreciate the opportunity to serve the people of Flomaton for the past four or five years," Lee said. "Flomaton has an exceptional volunteer fire department and the community support is great."

"It was a tough decision because I really enjoy what I'm doing, but it's an opportunity I need to take at this time."

Lee, 40, said Flomaton is his home and will continue to be his home.

"The only difference is I will not be at the firehouse from 8 to 5," Lee said. "But I will continue to volunteer.

Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr., said the town will begin the advertising process to hire another full-time paid fireman, feeling the position is critical for the town.

"Jeremy has done a fantastic job," Bondurant said. "He's a good man and he worked hard."

Bondurant said it's important for Flomaton to have a paid fireman on duty during the day while the volunteers are at work."

"With the ambulance stationed up there and the way things are, it's very important," Bondurant said.

He noted that Lee did a great job making sure all the vehicles and firetrucks were well taken care of so when volunteers got a call they could simply jump into the truck and go.