GALESBURG, Ill. — The City of Galesburg, Illinois, has reached an important milestone. Haley Stevenson on Monday, May 2 became the first female firefighter in the history of the Galesburg Fire Department.
Stevenson was the only one to pass the test out of two female applicants in 2020. Of the 51 total applicants, she came in at No. 9, Chief Randy Hovind said.
"This is an achievement that is long overdue," Hovind said in the department's announcement. "We are very pleased to have Firefighter Stevenson joining our team and know that this is the first step of many towards accomplishing levels of diversity that truly represent our community."
Stevenson was sworn in Monday morning during a ceremony at City Hall, according to the fire department. While she explained her surprise in being the first woman to be sworn in at the department, she's proud to be blazing the trail.
"It's a lot of pressure. It's intimidating, but it's very exciting at the same time," Stevenson said.
Stevenson, a Galesburg native and Carl Sandburg College alumna, is part of a fire legacy. Her father, Deputy Chief Brad Stevenson, retired last year from the Galesburg Fire Department, and he was the one to pin her new badge onto her uniform during the oath ceremony.
"It was very fulfilling to have him pin me and not only see but feel his emotion throughout the entire thing," Stevenson said. "I felt very proud of myself."
Her dad is the one who helped her train for the physical agility test she took in October 2020. It's that part of the test that Hovind said often deters women.
"When I realized that I wanted to test, my dad was actually a powerlifter, back in the day with a couple of other guys in the department and so he started training me immediately for my strength," Stevenson explained. "Females don't have as much upper body strength as men. So that's literally the only issues that I've had so far."
According to Hovind, there have been women that have attempted the agility test in the past but haven't been able to pass it.
"We test every two years, the two years before that, I think we had five and none of them passed the physical agility. And in 2016, we had, I want to say 10," Hovind said. "I'm not surprised when she put her mind to it, that she was able to pass the physical agility test. We don't change those standards because, you know, the job is the same for everybody."
The fire department is looking to diversify its workforce even more. One way they're doing so is by offering all aspiring firefighters the chance to run the physical agility course as often as they want before taking the actual test.
There will also be some logistical changes at the station to accommodate women who join the force. The department is hoping to eventually make around $500,000 dollars in renovations to the central station.
In the meantime, they will be making minor changes like adding a women's locker room and adjusting sleeping areas.
"We were setting up some spaces for that, you know, so we're already trying to answer that. We'll have separate washers and dryers and things like that, a separate bath," Hovind said.
Stevenson is headed for the training academy now, which includes seven more weeks of physical training and three weeks of classes. While there, she'll have the chance to meet some other female firefighters.
"I've had a couple of people message me on Facebook and just kind of give me their advice and you know, what they've dealt with and everywhere is different. But I love hearing from everyone," Stevenson said.
Women from other departments have also reached out with advice about being the first female in their department.
"Don't let them see you cry. Don't let people walk all over you, stay quiet and listen, but don't demand your place," Stevenson said. "But again, I don't feel like I'm going to have any issues with this department."
The fire department also shared information on becoming a firefighter on its website and began offering orientations and study groups to help prepare those interested in the field that may not otherwise be familiar with the process, according to the department.
Anyone interested in learning more about the process, which includes physical agility and written tests and an interview, to become a Galesburg firefighter should click/tap here.
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