It’s commonplace around firehouses to see firefighters transition to new career paths after two decades of service.
But usually, first-responder crews watch people walk out their doors when they hit about 50. Very few walk through the door fresh to firefighting.
At age 53, however, D.C. fire department paramedic Carmen Hackett is doing that: She graduated Friday as the most senior member and the only paramedic in Firefighter Recruit Class 388.
“I was the oldest person in the class, even older than the instructors,” Hackett said. “I was being taught by people who I am old enough to be their mother.”
No lifelong dream lay behind Hackett’s decision to put herself through the often grueling four months of training to learn the science of fighting fires and rescuing people. Her decision flowed from a decision to go after promotion opportunities that would come with adding firefighter to her skill set.