Time Machine: Female firefighters

Davenport and Iowa City hired first women in Iowa in 1977, with Cedar Rapids following in 1986

Marion Fire Chief Debra Krebill stands next to a new aerial fire truck in February 2019. Krebill was a Marion firefighter for 23 years before being named chief in July 2014, the second woman to be a career fire chief in the state. She retired in April 2022. (The Gazette) — Marion Fire Chief Debra Krebill stands next to a new aerial firetruck in February 2019. Krebill was a Marion firefighter for 23 years before being named the department’s chief in July 2014, the second woman to be a career fire chief in the state. She retired in April 2022. (The Gazette)

The first career female firefighter in the U.S. was Sandra Forcier, who was hired as a police officer/firefighter in Winston-Salem, N.C., in July 1973.

The following year, Judith Livers became the first to serve strictly as a firefighter for the Arlington, Va., Fire Department. Both retired from their careers as battalion chiefs.

Shannon Iossi became Iowa’s first female career firefighter in 1977 in Davenport. (Quad-City Times archives)

Sharon Iossi, a physical education teacher, became Eastern Iowa’s first female firefighter when she was hired by the Davenport Fire Department in March 1977.

A Cedar Rapids firefighter gives Gazette reporter Ann Schrader instructions on how to use the breathing apparatus and mask in June 1977, a few months after Davenport hired the first career female firefighter in the state. The reporter took part in firefighter training during a controlled burn. (Gazette archives)

Pushing sweaty hair out of her face, Gazette reporter Ann Schrader begins removing fire equipment after taking part in a fire training exercises in June 1977 with Cedar Rapids firefighters. (Gazette archives)

A few months later, in June 1977, Gazette reporter Ann Schrader joined Cedar Rapids Fire Department rookies training at a controlled burn of a house.

“If I chose to accept the mission, I’d go through the whole shootin’ match of donning a helmet, boots, breathing apparatus and mask to trudge into the burning house with the rookies,” Schrader wrote for The Gazette. “Maybe I have a death wish, but I decided to give it a try.”

After enduring the intense heat and smoke, the weight of the firefighting gear and the toll on her body, Schrader reported she was exhausted. A few veteran firefighters asked if she wanted to be a firefighter.

“It was interesting,” she answered, “but being a reporter is easier, most of the time.”

Pregnant firefighter

Iowa City’s first female firefighter — Linda Eaton — became national news after her hiring in August 1977.

Linda Eaton became Iowa City’s first female firefighter on Aug. 18, 1977. This photo was taken in 1979 when her insistence on breastfeeding her newborn led to her suspension and an eventual court injunction that allowed her to do that twice a day when she was working. (Gazette archives)

After two years with the department, Eaton, a West Liberty native, became pregnant and was transferred to a non-hazardous city job, causing a vacancy that was a hardship on other firefighters, the city said.

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After having her baby, Eaton decided to breastfeed her son while she was on duty at the fire station. Her bosses didn’t think that was a good idea, and she was suspended twice and threatened with dismissal.

District Judge Ansel Chapman issued a temporary injunction prohibiting the city from firing Eaton and allowing her to nurse her son twice a day, pending an investigation by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, The Gazette reported.

Though she’d won that battle, Eaton claimed she then was subjected to harassment by other firefighters. She resigned in May 1980 and filed a sex discrimination and harassment lawsuit against Iowa City and three officials in 1984. She lost the lawsuit.

Clinton firefighter Karen McQuiston in 2015 filed discrimination charges against the department when she became pregnant. She lost the case in district court but the Iowa Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Natalie Kleis of Marion said she was looking for a more challenging career when she tried out to become a Cedar Rapids firefighter. She and Tonya Ross were the first female firefighters hired in Cedar Rapids in April 1986. (Gazette archives)

Tonya Ross, one of the two first female firefighters to be hired in Cedar Rapids in April 1986, said her family supported her during the testing and yearlong training the job required. (Gazette archvies) — Tonya Ross, one of the two first female firefighters to be hired in Cedar Rapids in April 1986, said her family supported her during the testing and yearlong training the job required. (Gazette archives)

C.R. hires 2 women

Cedar Rapids hired its first two women firefighters, Natalie Kleis and Tonya Ross, in March 1986. The department had been male-only for 92 years.

Kleis and Ross began working at the new Central Fire Station, completed in December 1985, at B Avenue and Third Street NW. The station was designed with a separate sleeping area and locker room for women.

Kleis became the fire department’s first full-time safety education officer in 1990. She left the department in 1997 after clashing with Brud Gorman, who became fire chief in 1991.

Ross left the department in 2003 after 17 years, moving to the Pacific Northwest, where she had spent her childhood.

More firsts

Cedar Rapids hired Emma Pulver as a firefighter in 1988. Pulver rose to the rank of captain of a crew that included six female firefighters.

Marion hired its first female firefighter in 1990. Maureen Brown, 40, had been a paramedic with the Area Ambulance Service when she was hired.

Brown recruited Debra Krebill to join her as a Marion firefighter. Krebill worked for the department for 23 years before being named the department’s chief in July 2014, the second woman to become a career fire chief in the state. She retired in April 2022.

Lynn Washburn-Livingston became fire chief in Davenport in October 2011 after serving 30 years with the Rockford, Ill., Fire Department.

After working as an Iowa City firefighter for about eight years, Tina McDermott became the department’s first female lieutenant in March 2009. At the time, Iowa City had one other woman in the department and Cedar Rapids had five.

Sadie McDowell became Iowa City’s fourth female firefighter in June 2011. She filed a lawsuit, alleging gender and sexual orientation discrimination, harassment and retaliation in August 2022.

Ottumwa hired its first female firefighter in May 2022.

As of 2020, women made up 9 percent of the more than 1 million firefighters in the United States, according to a National Fire Protection Association estimate. The Cedar Rapids Fire Department now has eight female firefighters.

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