TAMPA, Fla. — For Women’s History Month, two former Bay area firefighters are being celebrated for paving the way for women.
What You Need To Know
- In 1980, there were only about 200 women working as career firefighters in the United States. Today, that number has grown to 15,000 female career firefighters, according to the organization Women In Fire
- Jenny Hayes was the first woman to be hired at the Lakeland Fire Department in the 1980s
- Betty Coleman was the first Black female firefighter to put on the uniform at Tampa Fire Rescue in 1981
- According to the National Fire Protection Association, women represent about 9% of firefighters nationwide
Jenny Hayes was the first woman to be hired at the Lakeland Fire Department. And Betty Coleman was the first Black female firefighter to put on the uniform at Tampa Fire Rescue.
Both women were hired in the 1980s, when fire departments all across the country were actively recruiting women and other minorities…