As we get ready to wrap up Women’s History Month, we’re recognizing some females with the Greensboro Fire Department.Three women in North Carolina made history as the first all-female arson investigation team in the U.S.Being any kind of first responder is always a tough job, but for the women on Greensboro Fire’s arson investigation team, it’s a passion.”A lot of time we go in and we never know what our day is going to bring,” said fire investigator Capt. Vicky Martin.”It’s a great career path to take,” added fire investigator Bridget Crump. “You’re learning a lot every day.”Up until recently, the three women made up Greensboro fire’s arson investigation team. It’s the only all-female arson investigation team in the country.”As far as we know, we’re it,” said Crump. Crump, Martin and Mann call themselves “Greensboro’s Charlie’s Angels.””I think it’s neat,” Crump said. “It’s something I never even thought about. I never thought to myself, ‘Hey, we’re making history with an all-female team.’ We just come in and do our thing – it’s boots on the ground. We’re digging out fire scenes, getting dirty. We don’t really look at ourselves as something different.” Jennifer recently retired and is no longer on the arson investigation team. Vicky has been with the city of Greensboro for about 19 years and has been doing investigations for the last five years.Bridget has been with the department for nearly 22 years, 12 of those in the fire marshal’s office — with the last seven years being dedicated to full-time fire investigation. “When we roll up on scenes, it is funny sometimes how people react,” Crump said. “Because sometimes they’re like, ‘oh, there’s a female on the truck!’ But, it’s also fun when little girls run up and say, ‘wow this is what you do!’ And it’s a good feeling.”They call themselves “truth seekers,” carrying the heavy responsibility of uncovering the cause of fires.”The hardest part is if we know there are fatalities,” said Martin. “And we’ve had a lot of those in the last four months.”Added Crump, “It really hits home each time. Because we’re dedicated to finding out answers and getting that for the families involved.”These powerful, strong and brave women encourage all young girls everywhere to follow their dreams.”If you have a dream, don’t give up,” said Crump. “Keep fighting for it and pushing for it — and don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 14,600 current paid arson investigators. Of those, only roughly 1,752 are female.Recently, Sean Walker did fill Mann’s position, so the team is no longer all-female. However, they say now they just have the “Charlie” to their “Angels.”
As we get ready to wrap up Women’s History Month, we’re recognizing some females with the Greensboro Fire Department.
Three women in North Carolina made history as the first all-female arson investigation team in the U.S.
Being any kind of first responder is always a tough job, but for the women on Greensboro Fire’s arson investigation team, it’s a passion.
“A lot of time we go in and we never know what our day is going to bring,” said fire investigator Capt. Vicky Martin.
“It’s a great career path to take,” added fire investigator Bridget Crump. “You’re learning a lot every day.”
Up until recently, the three women made up Greensboro fire’s arson investigation team. It’s the only all-female arson investigation team in the country.
“As far as we know, we’re it,” said Crump.
Crump, Martin and Mann call themselves “Greensboro’s Charlie’s Angels.”
“I think it’s neat,” Crump said. “It’s something I never even thought about. I never thought to myself, ‘Hey, we’re making history with an all-female team.’ We just come in and do our thing – it’s boots on the ground. We’re digging out fire scenes, getting dirty. We don’t really look at ourselves as something different.”
Jennifer recently retired and is no longer on the arson investigation team.
Vicky has been with the city of Greensboro for about 19 years and has been doing investigations for the last five years.
Bridget has been with the department for nearly 22 years, 12 of those in the fire marshal’s office — with the last seven years being dedicated to full-time fire investigation.
“When we roll up on scenes, it is funny sometimes how people react,” Crump said. “Because sometimes they’re like, ‘oh, there’s a female on the truck!’ But, it’s also fun when little girls run up and say, ‘wow this is what you do!’ And it’s a good feeling.”
They call themselves “truth seekers,” carrying the heavy responsibility of uncovering the cause of fires.
“The hardest part is if we know there are fatalities,” said Martin. “And we’ve had a lot of those in the last four months.”
Added Crump, “It really hits home each time. Because we’re dedicated to finding out answers and getting that for the families involved.”
These powerful, strong and brave women encourage all young girls everywhere to follow their dreams.
“If you have a dream, don’t give up,” said Crump. “Keep fighting for it and pushing for it — and don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are roughly 14,600 current paid arson investigators. Of those, only roughly 1,752 are female.
Recently, Sean Walker did fill Mann’s position, so the team is no longer all-female. However, they say now they just have the “Charlie” to their “Angels.”
