Article By Terry Chandler // EEW Magazine // Women Who Lead

Of the approximately 340,000 firefighters in the US, only 24,300 are women, with even fewer operating in leadership positions. To put that in perspective, less than four percent of firefighters nationwide are women, according to Women in Fire and United States Fire Administration.

The trailblazing trio of women that run the only all-female fire department in the world and hold the top three positions stopped by NBC’s “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” and we loved it.

Fire Chief Toni Washington, Deputy Chief Vera Morrison, and Assistant Fire Chief Ninetta Violante, chatted with the newly-minted daytime talk show host about women breaking through the glass ceiling in a male-dominated industry.

“I remember being in school and watching the fire parades, and I saw a female on the back of a truck and I was like, I absolutely want to do that. I can do that,” said Deputy Chief Morrison, sandwiched between her two colleagues on the sofa and remembering what sparked her desire to do this job.

Assistant Chief Violante, positioned on the left end next to Morrison, said, “I have to interject and brag a little bit because Chief Washington, for a while, was actually the only African American female chief in the United States”—a fact the crowd applauded.

Fire Chief Washington responded, “It’s bitter-sweet for me because in 2019, I should not have been the only one for that long.”

Clarkson was visibly shocked to discover that the long overdue diversification of the position happened this year. “For about two years I was the only one,” Washington said.

In Portland, Sara Boone was sworn in August, and in Prince George’s County, the former veteran Chief Deputy Tiffany Green was selected to fill the void left by the retirement of Chief Benjamin Barksdale in July.

Get inspired by these bold, charismatic women who are leading the way for other women to rise to the top.