ORANGE BEACH — Columbia Southern University, a nationally accredited, online university in Orange Beach, holds partnerships with more than 45 fire organizations and has most recently added the Daphne Fire Department to the list. 

“Our firefighters work around the clock to make our community a safer place to live and work,” said interim Chief Kenneth Hanak of the Daphne Fire Department. “Thanks to Columbia Southern University, we can now offer our staff educational opportunities that can fit around their career and family obligations.”

Comprised of 34 staff and 10 volunteers, the Daphne Fire Department covers approximately 16 square miles and responds to more than 2,000 emergency calls per year. The department offers fire suppression, advanced life support emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and tactical emergency medicine.  The department is also part of the Baldwin County All Hazards Task Force. 

Orange Beach Fire and Rescue, New York Fire Department, Iowa City Fire Department and Tampa Fire and Rescue are other fire organizations on the long list of Columbia Southern University partnerships. 

To learn more about Columbia Southern University partnerships, please visit http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/alliances/learningpartners.asp or contact Chantell Cooley, Vice President of Partnership Development at chantell@columbiasouthern.edu.