TAMPA, Fla. — For Women’s History Month, two former Bay area firefighters are being celebrated for paving the way for women.

What You Need To Know

In 1980, there were only about 200 women working as career firefighters in the United States. Today, that number has grown to 15,000 female career firefighters, according to the organization Women In Fire

Jenny Hayes was the first woman to be hired at the Lakeland Fire Department in the 1980s

Betty Coleman was the first Black female firefighter to put on the uniform at Tampa Fire Rescue in 1981

According to the National Fire Protection Association, women represent about 9% of firefighters nationwide

Jenny Hayes was the first woman to be hired at the Lakeland Fire Department. And Betty Coleman was the first Black female firefighter to put on the uniform at Tampa Fire Rescue.

Both women were hired in the 1980s, when fire departments all across the country were actively recruiting women and other minorities.

“I mean, why not give us a chance?” Hayes said. “That’s how I saw it back then. I’m like, ‘If they’re going to give me a chance, I’m going to show them I can do it.'”

Hayes said a firefighter friend told her about the job. And once hired, some of the men had a hard time trusting her at first.

“You know, like, can she drag me out of a situation?” Hayes said. “I can definitely drag you, I may not be able to carry some of them, but I can definitely drag you.”

Hayes stayed on with Lakeland Fire for three years. She left after becoming pregnant.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, women represent about 9% of firefighters nationwide.

But while the overall percentage may be low, firefighting has grown. In 1980, there were only about 200 women working as career firefighters in the United States.

Today, that number has grown to 15,000 female career firefighters, according to Women In Fire.

Coleman remembers when she thought about applying. She was working in Tampa’s Water Department when she saw Black women interviewing and testing for Tampa’s fire department. Coleman spoke to human resources about it.

“(A person from HR) said the city is looking for women to work at the fire department, and they’re looking for a few good Black women, and I said, ‘I’m a few Black good woman,’ and she said, ‘OK, put your application in,” Coleman said. “And then I put my application in, and then, suprising for me, I made a pretty good grade, I think it was like an A. It was one I couldn’t refuse.”

Coleman climbed the ranks from firefighter to fire inspector before retiring. Now, Tampa has its first Black female fire chief, Barbara Tripp. Tripp said Coleman paved the way.

“She opened that door for me to know if she did it, I could do it too,” Tripp said.