(Minneapolis, MN) — Sept 24th, 2022 — Being the first is never easy. Just ask the women of the Minneapolis Fire Department’s first all-woman crew.
But the hard work, perseverance, passion and strength in 1992 of Jean Kidd, Mary Mohn, Vicki Hoff and Bonnie Bleskachek knocked down doors for Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Amanda Swenson and thousands of other women who became firefighters in the years since.
It was empowering, inspirational and eye-opening to be part of Friday’s ceremony honoring women and the 30-year anniversary of the department’s first all-woman crew. There is still a lot of work to be done to recruit more women into the Minnesota fire service. The sad fact is, people are often still surprised when a firefighter removes their helmet and a woman.
Do you know a woman who wants to be a fire fighter? It’s a simple question that opens the door to women knowing they can do the job. They can do the job well. They can walk through the door that Kidd, Mohn, Hoff and Bleskachek opened for them and become the new generation of female firefighters in Minnesota.
