Rogersville, Alabama – On November 11, 2026, the community marked the 41st anniversary of the largest fire in the town’s history. The blaze, which erupted on Veterans Day in 1985, consumed much of the downtown area and tested the resolve of the Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department.
First‑hand recollection
Volunteer fire assistant chief Morris Lentz, then a college student working part‑time at First Alabama Bank, was awakened by the sound of a siren that night. “Back then you didn’t have radios, you didn’t have pagers, you just had an old siren on top of the water tank,” Lentz recalled. “I came down here and as I was rounding the corner from my home I saw the smoke, so I knew the bank was on fire.”
He later learned that a malfunctioning central unit inside the bank had sparked the fire. With limited equipment and experience, Lentz entered the burning building alone – a move that would be prohibited today. “I got about halfway in, and the heat was just too much so I had to turn around and come back out,” he said.
Community and regional response
Firefighters initially tried to combat the flames from outside, but quickly realized a different approach was needed. Backup arrived from surrounding areas, including a ladder truck from Athens. “Our fire chief showed up, he was very supportive. The other firemen were very supportive and we just did what we could do,” Lentz noted.
The battle lasted more than six hours. Exhausted but determined, the crew managed to prevent the fire from spreading further across downtown. The next morning, firefighters returned to find that much of the bank’s interior, including the vault, remained intact.
Impact on a career
That night set a standard for Lentz’s service. He has volunteered with the Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department since high school in 1983 and continues to mentor new volunteers. “Those kinds of fires come around once in a lifetime, I wish they didn’t come around but they do. Early in my career as a volunteer that kind of set the standard and right then I realized that this is something I wanted to do,” he reflected.
The anniversary serves as a reminder of the bravery of local first responders and the importance of community support during emergencies. It also underscores the unique connection between the town’s Veterans Day observance and the dedication of its volunteer firefighters.
Original reporting: WAFF 48 Huntsville (news) — read the source article.
