Rich Langford would probably agree that he was made for a job in the fire service.
A longtime paramedic and firefighter, he always went after the toughest assignments.
Now, he has a job no other African American has ever held at Everett Fire. He’s the department’s newest battalion chief. Why, he was asked, did it take so long?
“First, it is a tested position,” said Langford. “So, it’s not as if there haven’t been African American chiefs in Everett. It’s just that I don’t believe that anybody else actually tested in this position.”
But he did test.
“As you progress through the department, there are ways to help the department get better, ways to make change,” said Langford.
Changes like learning how to put out electric vehicle fires.