As the one of the few female firefighters in San Antonio, Brooke Hildreth found herself in an awkward situation whenshe was the only woman assigned to Fire Station No. 9 in 1993.
All the beds were in an open area, there was one bathroom, and the men were in the habit of sleeping in their underwear.
“I could actually reach out and touch the person (in the bed) next to me,” she said. “The big change was most of themen went from briefs to boxers. I wore long biking shorts and a T–shirt. The one thing I had a little trouble with was thesnoring. But the men were respectful to me, and I was to them.”
Since joining the San Antonio Fire Department 15 years ago, Hildreth has battled dozens of house and brush fires and rescued many lives. Now those who know her will agree that hersincere desire to help others, her enthusiasm and a can–do attitudehas helped her get to where she is today.
On Jan. 12, Hildreth, 44, became the first female in the history ofthe San Antonio Fire Department to be named a district chief.
“Brooke is going to do a good job,” said her boss, Assistant ChiefNoel Horan. “I’ve known her for a long time. She has a strong workethic, and she’s a conscientious firefighter.”
Currently, 59 women are local firefighters compared to 1,426 malefirefighters, Hildreth said.
Becoming a firefighter was not acareer the 1982 Churchill graduatealways dreamed of pursuing. Aftergraduating in 1986 from Texas A&Mwith a degree in animal science, Hildrethworked for the University ofTexas Health Science Center doingkidney research and then later as an invitro fertilization technician.
When her daughter was 6 monthsold, she and her former husbandbought their first home in Bulverde.Because it was far from town, she decidedto take a first–aid course at theHealth Science Center to help herfamily and neighbors in case of a medicalemergency.
Instead of completing a basic firstaidcourse, Hildreth chose to becomea certified emergency medical technician.
“Part of the training is you haveto ride out with EMS,” she said. “I enjoyedit so much, and the more I rodeout on the ambulance, it felt so right. Iknew this is where I needed to be.”
After several years as an EMT, theambitious Hildreth set her sights on becoming a firefighter.
“I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie,” she said. “I took the test withabout 1,700 people. I got into drill school, and it was uphill fromthen.”
Hildreth recalls that when she told her parents she was goingto become a firefighter they thought she had lost her mind. Hermother, Jeri Martin, now thinks differently and said that in retrospectshe isn’t surprised her daughter has risen up the ranks of thefire department.
“She’s always been dedicated to whatever she does,” Martinsaid. “When she wants to do something, she goes for it. She’s smartand is really good with people. I’m very proud of her.”
Laura Baird, Hildreth’s 20–year–old daughter, has supportedher mom since day one.
“I think it’s amazing that she started off as a firefighter and isnow a district chief,” the Texas A&M elementary education majorsaid. “She’s proven that a woman can do a job that a man can do.”
As district chief of personnel at the San Antonio Fire Departmentheadquarters at 115 Auditorium Circle, Hildreth is in chargeof transfers, promotions and worker’s compensation, among otherresponsibilities. “My goal is to stay here for a few years and then goback into the field as a district chief,” she said.
In addition to serving on the Human Relations Committee forSan Antonio Local 624 Professional Fire Fighters Association, Hildrethis a trustee for the International Association of Women inFire and Emergency Services (formerly Women in the Fire Serviceand Women Chief Fire Officers), a Wisconsin–based organizationdedicated to providing networking andsupport for female firefighters.
The first time she attended an IAWFESconference, Hildreth was in awe.
“It was such an empowering experiencebecause for the first time in mycareer I was in a room full of peers, andat the time, there were no other womenat my station or district,” Hildreth said.“There were captains and chiefs runningentire departments. It was such aninspiration.”
Throughout the United States, thereare about 6,200 women firefighters andofficers, according to the IAWFES Website. Women in fire service dates back tothe 1800s as members of volunteer firebrigades. They became seasonal wildland firefighters in the 1970s, and thefirst female career firefighter was hiredin 1974.
In 2005, her generous spirit of givingback to others was demonstrated whenshe and photographer Pamela Wesselteamed to produce a calendar of localfemale firefighters. More than $30,000was raised and donated to the TexasBurn Survivor’s Society.
“I always kept extra copies in my car to sell,” she said. “It showedserious women doing a serious job. It was very classy.”
Meanwhile, now that she is in an administrative position, doesthe district chief miss being out in the field? “Yes. It’s been hardmaking the adjustment,” Hildreth said. “I miss the (fire calls) andthe excitement.”
But Hildreth views her new role as an opportunity to inspireand be a role model to other women.
“If there’s something you want to do, and you want it badenough, you can achieve it,” she said. “Achieving your goals is anincredible feeling, and I want people to feel good about their livesas I do about mine.”
