City of South Fulton fire captain breaks down barriers – WSB-TV Channel 2

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – City of South Fulton Fire Captain Tangela Rowe said being a fire captain isn’t a lifelong dream because some of the barriers haven’t been broken yet. . “As a little girl, I never saw the fire service as a viable profession for me. To be honest, I never saw firefighters who looked like me,” Rowe explained.

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Fire department statistics show that less than 7% of all firefighters in the United States are black. Less than 0.5% are black women. Yet Rowe just received an award reserved for the best of the best.

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“It is a very difficult diploma to obtain. You are noted by your peers for this. So we’re extremely proud of her,” Deputy Fire Chief Jimmy Gittens said. The Captain is now a Nationally Designated Fire Officer. The award recognizes a career of excellence and professionalism. Rowe is part of an elite group of just over 600 certified firefighters nationwide.

Rowe says it’s humiliating. But unlike when she was little, she hopes little girls today will see her and want to follow in her footsteps.

“Representation matters. Young black girls, young brown girls, young whatever. They need to be able to see themselves in professions like this,” Rowe said.

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