Since the resignation of Selma Fire Department (SFD) Chief Tony Stephens earlier this year, the department has been under the leadership of Acting Chief Chris Graham but, according to Selma City Council President Corey Bowie, that will soon change.

The city recently posted the opening and is gearing up for a series of public interviews to be led by a search committee that consists of business leaders, former firefighters and the city’s Public Safety Committee, which consists of Bowie and Selma City Councilwomen Jannie Thomas and Susan Youngblood.

“We need someone who’s in line with the core values and the mission of the overall city,” Bowie said. “We need someone who’s team-oriented to meet the needs of the fire department and move forward.”

The job has been posted online, though a formal job description is still being ironed out, and Bowie intends to contact the Alabama Fire College and surrounding counties for additional applicants.

The deadline for submissions is Aug. 5 and Bowie said the interview process will begin just over a week later, with a selection to be announced by the end of the month.

Though the public will be allowed to sit in on the interviews as a way of getting to know the candidates and possibly voice support or opposition to their council members, Bowie noted that the interviews will not be a public forum for citizens to question the candidates.

“It’s important, I think, to engage the community in this process,” Bowie said. “We value all of the input. All of that input is going to be critical in selecting a chief.”

According to Bowie, three or four candidates have already submitted their résumés.

According to Bowie, Selma Mayor Darrio Melton proposed combining the fire chief search with a search for a new Selma Police Department (SPD) Chief, but Bowie insisted that the SFD position needed to be addressed first.

“I just want to deal with the fire chief right now,” Bowie said. “When that’s done, we’ll address the police chief.”

According to Bowie, a similar process will play out as the city hunts for the next leader of the SPD, with a selection slated for the end of October.

Anyone interested in applying should send their résumé to Bowie at coreybowie2012@gmail.com.