UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                   (Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)

                               (Amendment No. 9)*


                             FIRSTFED BANCORP, INC.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  COMMON STOCK
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    33761Q102
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                DECEMBER 31, 2000
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


This Schedule is filed according to Rule 13d-1(b).

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).

                      [Continued on the following page(s)]

                                Page 1 of 4 Pages





Page 2 of 4 Pages                                             CUSIP #: 33761Q102

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Name of Reporting Person:
   (I.R.S. Identification No. of above person):

   First Financial Fund, Inc.
   13-3341573

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Check the appropriate box if a member of a group:
   (a) (   )
   (b) (   )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. SEC use only:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Citizenship or Place of Organization:

   Maryland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                          5.    Sole Voting Power

                                                252,000
                                          --------------------------------------

   Number of shares                       6.    Shared Voting Power

   beneficially owned by                        0
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          7.    Sole Dispositive Power
   each Reporting Person with

                                                0
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          8.    Shared Dispositive Power

                                                252,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.    Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person:

      252,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.   Check if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.   Percent of class represented by amount in row (9):

      9.97%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.   Type of Reporting Person:

      IV





Page 3 of 4 Pages                                             CUSIP #: 33761Q102

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                                  SCHEDULE 13G

ITEM 1(A):  NAME OF ISSUER:

            Firstfed Bancorp, Inc.

ITEM 1(B):  ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

            1630 Fourth Avenue North
            Bessemer, Alabama 35020

ITEM 2(A):  NAME OF PERSON FILING:

            First Financial Fund, Inc.

ITEM 2(B):  ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE:

            Gateway Center Three
            100 Mulberry Street, 9th Floor
            Newark, New Jersey  07102-7503

ITEM 2(C):  CITIZENSHIP:

            Maryland

ITEM 2(D):  TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:

            Common Stock

ITEM 2(E):  CUSIP NUMBER:

            320228109

ITEM 3: TYPE OF PERSON FILING PURSUANT TO SS.SS.240.13d-1(b) OR 240.13d-2(b) OR
(c):

            An investment  company  registered under section 8 of the Investment
            Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8)

ITEM 4:  OWNERSHIP:

            (a)   AMOUNT  BENEFICIALLY  OWNED:  First  Financial  Fund,  Inc., a
                  registered  closed-end  investment company,  may be deemed the
                  beneficial  owner of  252,000  shares of  common  stock of the
                  Issuer.

            (b)   PERCENT OF CLASS: 9.97%

            (c)   VOTING AND DISPOTIVE  POWER:  First  Financial  Fund, Inc. has
                  sole power to vote or to direct  the vote and shared  power to
                  dispose or to direct  the  disposition  of  252,000  shares of
                  common stock of the Issuer.  First  Financial  Fund,  Inc. has
                  shared  power to vote or to direct  the vote and sole power to
                  dispose  or to direct  the  disposition  of 0 shares of common
                  stock of the Issuer.





Page 4 of 4 Pages                                             CUSIP #: 33761Q102

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                                  SCHEDULE 13G

ITEM 5:  OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS:

           Not Applicable

ITEM 6:  OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON:

           Not Applicable

ITEM 7:  IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
         ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY:

           Not Applicable

ITEM 8:  IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP:

           Not Applicable

ITEM 9:  NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:

           Not Applicable

ITEM 10:  CERTIFICATION:

                  By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
           and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are
           held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are
           not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or
           influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not
           acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in
           any transaction having that purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE:

                  After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
           belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is
           true, complete, and correct.

                                         Date:  February 12, 2001

                                         Signature: /s/ Arthur J. Brown
                                                    ------------------
                                         Name/Title:  Arthur J. Brown
                                                      Secretary