Russell Pardue will add another fire department to his life later this month.

Pardue will start working with the Selma Fire Department (SFD) in the near future. He is also Assistant Fire Chief at Summerfield Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) in Valley Grande.

Working at the SFD is something Pardue said he couldn’t pass up.

“It’s a lifelong dream to work at a career department,” Pardue said.

Pardue said he will remain with the Summerfield VFD, a place where he’s worked the last six years.

“I love volunteering there,” Pardue said. “Summerfield is a really great department with great guys. They are my brothers.”

Pardue said his family is behind him being a firefighter. He and his wife Lizzy have three children: Zane (9-years-old), Grant (7-years-old) and Ellis (5-years-old).

“My family supports me in the fire service and Lizzy has been a big help with supporting me being a first responder,” Pardue said.

Pardue said his son, Grant, wants to become a firefighter someday. Pardue said that motivates him.

“Grant told me that he wants to be a firefighter when he grows up,” Pardue said. “That pushed me to become the best firefighter I can be.”

Pardue is a lifelong Selma resident and graduated from Meadowview Christian School (MCS) in 2009.

“Selma is my hometown, I was born and raised here,” Pardue said. “I love the city. Selma may have its bad patches, but its still a great place to be.”