The city of Oakland has a new fire marshal, Felicia Bryant, who is making history as the first woman to ever hold the position.
"I was born and raised in Oakland," she said.
Bryant is an 18-year veteran of the department and a trailblazer, just like her great-grandfather, Bill Williams. He was one of the first Black firefighters hired by the Oakland Fire Department in 1920. There's even an oral history of Williams at the Oakland Museum archives.
"Growing up, I was always inspired by that story and I was like, it's in my blood," said Bryant.
Bryant started her career as a firefighter working at stations in east Oakland, and driving an engine. "One of the biggest joys I had when I was on the engine was seeing little girls. It was just a little girl to look up and be like, Wow, she's a woman firefighter she's a girl like me. And I get to give hope to people who don't think it's for them or who may feel like I can't achieve that," said Bryant.