Ala. city requires firefighters at candle services

  HOMEWOOD, Ala. (AP) - Churches in an Alabama city better count
on a few extra guests at Christmas Eve candlelight ceremonies.
    The Birmingham suburb of Homewood requires a permit and four
off-duty firefighters to attend any service where candles are
passed out to parishioners.
    Fire Chief John Bresnan says the rule has been in place for 10
years, but many churches didn’t know about it.
    Pastor Sid Burgess of Edgewood Presbyterian Church says rule
“does seem like overkill” and the cost of up to $400 to hire
firefighters can be a lot for a small church.
    The rule doesn’t apply if ministers and other church leaders are
the only ones handling the flames.
    The fire chief says the rule is all about ensu