The city of Selma, Alabama, is mourning the death of one of its first responders after a firefighter died in the line of duty, city officials confirmed. Mayor Johnny “Skip” Moss III said the firefighter was on duty when he suffered a medical emergency, though the department had not yet released his name.
Selma Fire Chief Walter Dailey confirmed Saturday morning to WSFA 12 News that one of his firefighters died “in the line of duty,” though he said he was unable to immediately share any other details. As of Saturday morning, Dailey had not disclosed the firefighter's name or the specifics of the situation that led to his death.
Few Details Released So Far
Mayor Moss's statement that the firefighter was on-duty when he suffered a medical emergency represents the clearest information released publicly to date, according to the station's report. No other details about the medical situation were clear at the time of the report, and the firefighter's identity remained unreleased. WSFA 12 News has said it plans to update the developing story as more information becomes available.
A Department Still Rebuilding
The loss comes just months after Dailey was officially appointed Selma's fire chief, following more than a year of serving in the role on an interim basis. The Selma City Council voted in March to approve his appointment, formalizing a role he had effectively already been filling.
At the time of his appointment, Dailey outlined both progress and ongoing strain within the department. He said the department had upgraded its radio system so firefighters could communicate directly and instantly, a notable shift from years when crews “weren't able to get out more than about two miles,” as he put it. He also said the department had hired six new firefighters since the previous November, even as staffing remained below the level department leaders wanted.
Those staffing gaps have had tangible effects. Station 5 on Woodrow Avenue has remained at limited capacity because of both manpower shortages and a fire truck that requires significant repairs, per the department's own account earlier this year.
Other Alabama Line-of-Duty Deaths
Selma has faced the loss of a public safety official before. Dallas County Coroner Franklin L. Bailey died in January while assisting at a traffic accident involving two Selma teenagers, one of whom was killed and another seriously injured, according to Firehouse. Authorities said Bailey died of an apparent heart attack that was unrelated to the accident itself.
Elsewhere in the state, a Springville firefighter died during a training exercise in Anniston, as reported by FireRescue1. Springville Fire Chief Richard Harvey said officials believed the firefighter died from a medical incident, though the death remained under investigation by the Alabama State Fire Marshals Office. The Springville Fire Department described the loss as a line-of-duty death that occurred during an off-site training exercise.
No connection has been established between those incidents and the firefighter's death in Selma. For now, city officials have confirmed only that a member of the Selma Fire Department died while on duty after suffering a medical emergency, with further details expected as the investigation continues.
