Sartain retires after 28 years with Tuscumbia Fire Department

Many children grow up wanting to be things like firefighters, police officers or even fighter pilots.

Becoming a firefighter one day was never even a thought for Florence native Shawn Sartain when he was a kid.

Sartain was working in another field when David Cole, a Tuscumbia fireman, approached him about volunteering for the department. Cole would retire as fire chief in 2016.

“He asked me to volunteer, so I did,” Sartain said. “It worked in good with my side business.”

Sartain was a volunteer fireman with Tuscumbia for seven years before deciding — at age 30 — to become a full-time firefighter.

Fast forward to April 16, and the department Sartain spent 28 years professionally and 35 years total with held a retirement party in his honor at the station.

Chief J.T. Fox thanked Sartain for his service and presented him with a plaque in honor of his dedication to the city.

“We really appreciate you letting us have Capt. Sartain for the past 28 years,” Fox told Sartain’s family. “It’s been an honor for the last 12 for me. I know we are going to miss you, so please don’t be a stranger.”

Fox said Sartain has mentored many firemen over the years, including himself.

“He’s pretty much been the backbone of this department,” Fox said. “Him and Chief Cole. We just had another retirement, Capt. Chris Ezekiel. Those guys poured their hearts into this place, and we can’t thank them enough. We are losing a lot of experience, and it’s always good to have someone to look up to.”

Sartain said he worked together “a lot” with Ezekiel, who the former said was a “great captain.”

“He retired in March,” Sartain said. “I enjoyed working with him.”

Though a Florence native, Sartain said his wife and her family were from Tuscumbia, so that’s where they decided to settle down and raise a family.

Sartain had multiple grandchildren and other family members present at the retirement ceremony, along with a number of friends, colleagues and city officials.

“Tuscumbia has been good to me, and I’ve seen a lot over the years,” he said. ” It’s emotional. It’s been a big part of my life. I still care about the fire department and the guys here. It’s another chapter I’m going to move to in my life. I want to start something new.”

Sartain said he still remembers the first major fire he helped fight with Tuscumbia Fire Department.

A three-story complex that was “burning out of every window and door” on Second Street.

He also was among the firefighters who responded to a warehouse fire in March 2025 where convenience store supplies caused a number of explosions.

Sartain was on hand when Tuscumbia firemen were forced to make a “Mayday” call when three firefighters became trapped during a second-story fire. They ended up escaping out of a window.

“The exploding building is a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” he said. “These guys will probably never see something like that again.”

Now that he is hanging up his helmet, Sartain said he plans to spend more time with his family, including doing some traveling with his wife now that he has time.

“We want to see some things we always wanted to, that’s the main thing,” he said.

Though he will no longer be working for the department, Sartain he will still be “around.”

“If somebody needs me, I will give advice or help — whatever I can do,” he said. “We have a good crew coming up.”