William Coats Named January 2026 Firefighter of the Month

Mobile Fire-Rescue Department proudly recognizes FireMedic Willam Coats as the January 2026 Firefighter of the Month.

Coats began his career with the MFRD in June of 2024, after having served as a paramedic with regional, private-service ambulance companies.

In the early morning hours of January 28, 2026, while working with Enterprise Rescue in Jackson, Alabama, FireMedic Coats led rescue efforts to save a victim trapped in a confined space.  On a very cold night, a homeless individual sought shelter and warmth by sleeping inside of a commercial dumpster.

During the routine, trash retrieval the next morning, waste services crews, unknowingly, unloaded the dumpster with the victim still inside. After another dumpster unload, the victim was compressed twice before the truck operator was aware that someone was inside the trash compartment.

FireMedic Coats quickly responded to the scene and, with assistance from Jackson Volunteer Fire Department, made entry into the garbage compartment to access the downed victim. Having entered from the top of the truck and enclosed in a dangerous space, Coats put himself at great risk to save another person. Recalling his training from the MFRD Training Academy, Coats performed rapid assessments and stabilized the victim, despite challenging conditions within the garbage compartment.

While not deeply-trained in technical rescue, Coats was able to lean on what he had learned as a firefighter recruit to securely package and hoist the patient out of the compartment and safely onto the ground outside. The trapped individual was rescued with great effort from Coats and volunteers, and he was transported to an area trauma center, where he was treated for several, major fractures.

Thanks to the efforts of FireMedic Coats, a dangerous, life-threatening incident that could potentially have resulted in tragedy was averted.