Tyler loved to train firefighters

Fire trucks from multiple jurisdictions lined the streets of Brewton Friday and followed one of their own to Weavers Cemetery in Appleton to pay their respects and to honor Appleton Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Fredrick Tyler, who died Oct. 20 at his residence.

Tyler, 67, retired after 20 years in the Air Force as a technical sergeant, radar specialist and instructor. He used that training for more than 20 years as the Appleton fire chief to help train hundreds of firefighters across the area.

"He was the most dedicated teacher the county has ever had," said Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton. "He taught classes for the whole county. He came to Flomaton many times to teach firefighting classes."

McCall Fire Chief Charles Jackson said he has known Tyler for 23 years and said Tyler was a true professional in training firefighters.

"After he retired from the Air Force he moved to Brewton and got involved with the Appleton Fire Department," Jackson said. "He was an instructor in the military and found out the Alabama Fire College was designating regional training sites."

Jackson said Tyler has conducted more than 75 classes and trained more than a thousand firefighters.

"Through Mike's instruction, 20 volunteers have become certified," he said. "He taught everything. He and his wife Ginny taught EMT classes at Appleton. He was a great instructor."

Jackson also said Tyler has served as president of the Escambia County Fire Association for the past 10 years.

"He was a great grants writer," Jackson said. "He's brought in millions through grants to help fire departments and is recognized statewide for his training."

Jackson said Tyler was working on another $2 million grant at the time of his death and now they have to find somebody to see that project through.

Jackson added he did most of his training for firefighters in Escambia County and served on the advisory board of the Brewton-Escambia Career Center's fire instruction program.

"It's a big loss," Jackson said. "He's been one of my best friends and he loved helping others."

Jackson said he's been to a lot of funerals in Brewton but never remembers one as big as Tyler's this past Friday.

"There was a tremendous out-pouring of support," Jackson said. "I counted 18 fire trucks and more than 100 uniformed personnel. He will be greatly missed."

Helen Jackson, who now serves as Appleton's interim chief said Tyler was an awesome person and she has some big shoes to try and fill.

She recalled when she and her son joined the Appleton Fire Department they were both scared to death but Tyler made them feel right at home.

"He loved the training aspect of it all," she said.

She said the training not only protected the firemen, but the residents who were depending on the fire department once they got on the scene.

"He had a great sense of humor and he really loved to instruct people about fire fighting," she said.

She said Appleton is in the process of building a fire station on Mason Mill Pond Road and it will be completed in his honor.

"It's been a whirlwind," she said. "He will be missed big time. He trained a lot of people around here. He wasn't just a firefighter, he was family."

Ben Roe, fire chief at Barnett Crossroads, echoed those sentiments about Tyler's dedication to helping train others.

"He's done a lot for not only Appleton but for all the firefighters in Escambia County," Roe said.

His funeral was held Friday at the First Baptist Church in Brewton and he was buried at Weavers Cemetery in Appleton.

He is survived by his wife Ginny of Brewton; one sister, Sharon Bunn of Brandon, Miss.; one brother, Mark Tyler of Mesquite, Texas; three daughters, Jill Cibene of Long Beach, Miss., Katina Purvis of Brewton; and Tina Mouring of Pearl, Miss.; two sons, John Tyler of Stafford, Va., and David Tyler of Chicago, Ill.;11 grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.