'Bittersweet day': Birmingham Fire and Rescue's Station 9 reopens months after deadly shooting
Months after a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a firefighter and left another seriously injured, Birmingham Fire and Rescue's Station 9 officially reopened Wednesday.
The station went through remodeling on the inside and outside after the shooting.
鈥淎s you can imagine, this is a bittersweet day," Battalion Chief Clay Hendon said Wednesday morning.
Personnel who had been working at Station 9 on that day were given the option of transferring to another station. Hendon said about 50% stayed and 50% transferred, including the third person who was at the station on the day of the shooting.
"I know a lot of them are glad to be home and be back in their neighborhood with the faces that they're used to seeing, but it's difficult and it's going to be a challenge for some," Hendon said. "And that'll continue. We're still healing from this incident."
There are also multiple memorials to Firefighter Jordan Melton at the fire station to honor his legacy.
"I think you'll see operations kind of return to more normal as the days come ahead, but for right now, it's going to be a little different even though we are glad to be back," Hendon said.
Firefighter Jamal Jones is undergoing treatment at this time, and it is unclear when or if he will return, Hendon said.
Firefighters Jordan Melton and fellow firefighter Jamal Jones were doing routine morning maintenance in the Norwood area at Station 9 on 27th Street North on July 12 when the shooting occurred.
The bay door was open, and a man entered the building, police Chief Scott Thurmond said. The shooting happened inside the station around 8:30 a.m., Capt. Orlando Reynolds said.
Both firefighters were transported to UAB Hospital, where Melton later died from his injuries. He'd been with Birmingham Fire and Rescue for a little more than a year and recently graduated from the recruit academy.
Police said the man who shot the firefighters had a personal conflict with one of them. No one has been taken into custody.
In July, Gov. Kay Ivey announced that two $5,000 rewards, one for each firefighter, are being offered for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting.
This brings the reward total to $25,000, with Crime Stoppers offering $15,000 for information regarding the incident as well. Anonymous tips can be sent in by calling 205-254-7777.