Friday, March 19, 2004
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Friday, March 19, 2004 |
| Coweta welcomes female firefighter Kimberly Bowie is ready to make history as the first female firefighter in the Coweta County Fire Department. “I am really excited to have been offered an opportunity to help out the community I live in,” she said. “The first challenge is Rookie Training which will be six intense weeks, but I’m looking forward to that challenge and know I’ll get through it.” Bowie has been working as a producer/director with local cable TV news outlet News Channel 9. “Kimberly is qualified for the job and I fully expect her to perform at the top of her ability, just like any other firefighter has to do,” said Coweta County Fire Chief Dennis Hammond. “While the hire of female firefighters is not anything new across the country, it is new here in Coweta County. It is a positive change.” She is one of 11 firefighters hired March 2. Ten of the positions are new rookie firefighter positions and constitutes the largest single hire since the first paid firefighters were brought on board in 1976. The original group consisted of 18 firefighters. The Coweta County Fire Department was formed in 1973 and began its history as a volunteer organization, however, growth in the county led to the decision to hire the first paid firefighters and continued growth has led to this latest hiring. “We have seen Coweta County’s population almost double in the past 10 years and the call volume being handled by our department grew by some 11 percent from 2002 to 2003 alone,” said Hammond. “This new group of rookie firefighters will provide us the extra flexibility and support we need to better serve all of the county.” The 10 new rookie firefighters are expected to be stationed at Stations 6, 12 and 16. With this latest hire, Coweta County’s Fire Department now has 98 employees. There are currently 14 fire stations being operated with a 15th station being considered.
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