For the first time in the 22-year history of the Moraga-Orinda Fire District, an all-female crew was assigned to a shift, with acting Capt. Janet Brandi-Routt partnering with acting engineer Julie Murphy and firefighter-paramedic Katy Himsl. The landmark engine company worked out of Fire Station 42 in Moraga on May 8.
"I'm actually surprised it's taken this long for it to happen," said Brandi-Routt, a 21-year district veteran. According to Brandi-Routt, having the required job classifications fall in such perfect alignment was the reason that the all-female crew finally came together. She and Murphy are regularly assigned to Station 42, and when Himsl pulled the overtime shift to fill a crew vacancy, district history was made.
MOFD has been ahead of the curve in the employment of female firefighters for many years, and earlier this decade, prior to a retirement and a firefighter moving to a district nearer her home, nearly 10 percent of the district suppression roster included women.