Black History Month spotlight – Lieutenant Selena Smith Ruth

February 15, 2023

“If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” – Shirley Chisholm

Selena R. Smith always knew she wanted to work in ministry. When the local fire department visited her church to recruit volunteers, it piqued her interested, but she had already mailed her application to be a missionary with the United Methodist Church.

Her application was never received.

“I think that was a God moment, saying, ‘You don’t have to be a missionary overseas, I want you to do missionary work, you’re going to do it in the form of firefighting… I want you to stay in your local community, and that’s how you’re going to do your ministry,’” Selena said.

She spent her first few years in the fire service as a volunteer, splitting her time between work and the fire department. In the years since, Selena has transitioned to a career position as Lieutenant in the Community Risk Reduction Division at Sumter Fire Department.

As a Black woman, she’s humbled by the support she receives from the community.

“To me, I’m just a firefighter,” she continued, “but when I go out and see little girls and they’re like ‘oh, you can be a firefighter?’ I’m like, ‘yeah, you can be a firefighter!’”

Selena finds that even how she presents herself goes a long way in bridging barriers in the eyes of little ones. She’s growing out her hair, and young Black girls are in awe that a firefighter can have locs.

“It’s one of those things that if you can’t see it, you wouldn’t believe it,” Selena continued.

February is Black History Month and Selena firmly believes that it’s a year-round endeavor. She describes the month as being dedicated to equity.

“It’s all about the fairness and the justice, and being just,” she said. “Even though you’re sitting at the table, are you having a chance to talk at that table?”

At the end of the day, Selena knows that when she puts on her gear, she’s genderless and colorless – she’s just qualified to do the job.

“You can be as brown and dark as you want to, because in a fire, they don’t know what color you are.”