Auburn, Ala. - Auburn Fire Department is proud to announce three promotions within the department: John Peeks to the rank of battalion chief (BC), as well as Andrew Barber and Blake Taunton to the rank of captain.

Battalion Chief John Peeks began his fire service career as a student firefighter in May 2009. He accepted a position as a career firefighter in April 2013 before being promoted to sergeant in 2015, lieutenant in 2016 and captain in 2020.

Since joining the Department full time, Peeks has served as an Auburn Fire School instructor since 2013, a member of the Auburn Fire Department Honor Guard since 2014 and an EMT class coordinator for the East Alabama Regional Training Association (EARTA) since 2015. In addition to the EMT class coordinator role, he also led the EARTA physical training program from 2013 to 2023.

BC Peeks is a certified instructor for Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT), a member of the ALS committee for the formation of ALS response for the City of Auburn and a certified smoke diver through the Alabama Fire College. Peeks has also been named Employee of the Year by the Lee County Rotary Club.

Peeks has a bachelor’s degree in emergency management with related studies in public safety telecommunications and homeland security from Jacksonville State University. In addition, he earned an associate in science degree in paramedicine from Point University. He’s been a licensed paramedic since 2015.

He and his wife are proud parents of three sons.

Captain Andrew Barber began his fire service career with the City of Auburn as a student firefighter in June 2000. He accepted a full-time position as a career firefighter in March 2005 before being promoted to lieutenant in Nov. 2008. Barber graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in public administration in 2004. He and his wife, Candice, are the proud parents to two daughters, Camille and Callie.

Captain Blake Taunton began his fire service career with the City of Auburn as a student firefighter in March 2001. He accepted a full-time position as a career firefighter in March 2005 before being promoted to lieutenant in Nov. 2012. Captain Taunton graduated from Auburn University in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in environment science. He and his wife are the proud parents of three children.