Elba Fire Department

A truly tragic event for our community and all affected. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family involved.

We are grateful for all who responded and did their best to try to change the course of the event and then worked diligently to bring closure to the family. Upon arriving, some of our members, and the responding Enterprise Rescue Inc. crew, entered the waters, diving down in attempts to locate the victims. We commend the bravery and appreciate the dedication shown. We would like to thank all of the agencies involved for their assistance during this event as it was certainly a team effort. Please remember this family during this difficult time.

Today has been a heartbreaking day for our community

At approximately 1:37 p.m., the Coffee County 911 Center received a 911 call reporting a possible drowning involving two missing individuals at the bridge at the intersection of Alabama Highway 87 and Alabama Highway 84 near Elba.
Responding agencies quickly arrived on scene and determined that two individuals had gone underwater and did not resurface. The preliminary investigation indicates that 21-year-old Benji Falvo of Elba went underwater while attempting to cross the river. His stepfather, David Thomas Rubright of Elba, entered the water in an attempt to rescue him and also went underwater.
At approximately 5:00 p.m., Mr. Rubright was recovered. At approximately 6:13 p.m., Mr. Falvo was recovered.
This incident remains under investigation by the Elba Police Department, the Coffee County Coroner’s Office, and the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
We would like to thank all of the agencies that responded and worked tirelessly throughout the afternoon and evening, including Elba Fire Department, New Brockton Fire Department, Enterprise Rescue, Enterprise Air 1 and Air 2, Coffee County EMA, Bullock Fire Department, Opp Fire Department Dive Team, Houston County Dive Team, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Marine Patrol/Game Wardens, and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office.
Both individuals will be transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for autopsies as part of the ongoing investigation.
On behalf of the Coffee County Coroner’s Office, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Falvo and Rubright families. We ask everyone to please keep these families, their friends, and all of the first responders involved in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.
Out of respect for the families and the integrity of the investigation, no further information will be released at this time.

Thursday, 18-JUN2026 1621 hours ⚠️

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
415 PM CDT Thu Jun 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northwestern Dale County in southeastern Alabama...
Coffee County in southeastern Alabama...
Western Geneva County in southeastern Alabama...

* Until 515 PM CDT.

* At 415 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 6 miles southwest of Brundidge to 6 miles northwest
of Laurel Hill, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
Elba, Enterprise, Fort Rucker, Samson, New Brockton, Ariton, Lee,
Kinston, Mixons Crossroads, Curtis, Carl Folsom A/p, Logan Field
Municipal A/P, Camp Humming Hills, Clintonville, Roeton, Camp
Alaflo Bsa, Phillips Crossroads, Arcus, Enterprise Municipal A/P,
and Hwy 231 Pea River Bridge.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for southeastern
Alabama.

⚠️ Incident Report ⚠️

Incident: Residential Structure Fire
Date: May 17, 2026
Location: 22000 block of Highway 189 North

At approximately 6:15 a.m. today, Elba Fire Department along with Bullock Community VFD, Zion chapel volunteer fire departments, Enterprise Rescue Inc., and Coffee County Sheriff's Office - Alabama Deputies were dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 22000 block of Highway 189 north of Elba. Command 1 arrived and advised of a single-story residential structure with a well-involved attached garage and fire extension into the overhead of the main dwelling. A working fire was declared, and New Brockton Volunteer Fire Department was added to the assignment for additional manpower.

Elba Engines 3, 4, and Truck 2 also responded. A simultaneous interior and exterior fire attack was conducted with primary and secondary searches of the residence coming up negative for any occupants or pets. The fire was extinguished with the structure sustaining moderate damage. Thankfully, there were no injuries reported. The home was vacant at the time.

We would like to thank all of the agencies involved for their hard work and dedication. This successful outcome was truly a team effort.

FATAL TWO-VEHICLE COLLISION ON ALABAMA HIGHWAY 189 NORTH OF ELBA

COFFEE COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE
Elba, Alabama



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2026
FATAL TWO-VEHICLE COLLISION ON ALABAMA HIGHWAY 189 NORTH OF ELBA
ELBA, Ala. — On the afternoon of Friday, April 24, 2026, at approximately 4:17 p.m., emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle head-on collision on Alabama Highway 189 north of Elba.
Mrs. Judy C. Downs was pronounced deceased at the scene at 4:45 p.m. The driver of the second vehicle was transported by Enterprise Rescue Air2 to the trauma center in Montgomery for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.
Agencies responding to the scene included the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Enterprise Rescue, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, the Elba Police Department, the Elba Fire Department, and the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
The crash remains under investigation. No additional details are available for release at this time. Further information will be provided as the investigation progresses.
The Coffee County Coroner’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the family of Mrs. Downs and asks that the community keep the Downs family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Arnold Woodham, Coffee County Coroner