During Women's History Month, a trailblazer in the firefighting industry is inspiring the next generation of first responders.
As one of the first Black female firefighters with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD), Lorraine Hutchinson shattered the glass ceiling, rising to one of the highest-ranking positions before retiring. Over her 25-year career, Hutchinson climbed the ranks from firefighter to engineer, ultimately retiring as the fire deputy chief at the City of San Diego. Her impact on the firefighting industry persisted after she retired.
"There were other black females that came on the job, but they just didn’t last until retirement, and so I feel like I should have been able to do that," Hutchinson said. She said that there are no black female firefighters at SDFD to carry on her legacy.