Easton's Fire Department is going gender-neutral, at least in the ordinance that governs operations.
Easton City Council's Public Safety Committee reviewed ordinance changes Tuesday that include converting "men" in the ordinance to "firefighters," and "he" will become "the Fire Chief."
For example, the current language, "When answering an alarm of fire, he shall be in complete charge of all officers, men and apparatus'' will be "When answering an alarm of fire, the Fire Chief will have complete charge of all officers, firefighters …."
Only 4% of professional firefighters in the U.S. are women, the Harvard Business Review reported last year. The gender term changes were not an issue at the meeting.
The committee and City Administrator Luis Campos agreed to look at other revisions later, and no action was taken on the fire ordinance.