By EMS1 Staff
PHILADELPHIA — Two women in the Philadelphia Fire Department are being applauded after rising to high-ranking positions.
CBS Philadelphia reported that Linda Long, who was promoted from captain to battalion chief, and Crystal Yates, who was promoted from paramedic captain to paramedics services chief, became the firsts to fill such ranks.
Yates is the first African-American woman to hold her position. Long had been a captain on the EMS department, but left at age 39 to join the fire academy. She rose from rookie to captain prior to this promotion.
“I love serving the public,” Yates said. “I am no longer in the field of serving patients, but that was my favorite part of the job.”
Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said the department is working to recruit more women.
“This is a great harbinger of our success, but we have a lot of work to do,” Commissioner Thiel said.
https://www.facebook.com/Phillyfire/photos/pcb.1323294084421277/1323293854421300/?type=3&theater