Trailblazer: St. Marys VFD welcomes Hadley as first permanent female firefighter
Emily Hadley, 18, of St. Marys, shows off her certification as she is the first female to hold a permanent position with the St. Marys Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo Provided)
Terry Hadley, Emily Hadley and Mark Hadley pause for a picture to commemorate Emily’s acceptance into the St. Marys Volunteer Fire Department. All three will work together for the department. (Photo Provided)
Emily Hadley completed 132 hours of training and accepted a permanent position at the St. Marys Volunteer Fire Department in April. She is the first female to do so at this department. (Photo Provided)
Emily Hadley, 18, of St. Marys, shows off her certification as she is the first female to hold a permanent position with the St. Marys Volunteer Fire Department. (Photo Provided)
Terry Hadley, Emily Hadley and Mark Hadley pause for a picture to commemorate Emily’s acceptance into the St. Marys Volunteer Fire Department. All three will work together for the department. (Photo Provided)
Emily Hadley completed 132 hours of training and accepted a permanent position at the St. Marys Volunteer Fire Department in April. She is the first female to do so at this department. (Photo Provided)
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ST. MARYS -- Following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, a St. Marys woman became the first female firefighter to hold a permanent position at the St. Marys Volunteer Fire Department.
From the time she was little, Emily Hadley, 18, was influenced by her dad and grandpa who have collectively volunteered 50 years of their lives to be firefighters. Her interested rekindled after a career day presentation.
"For as long as I've been alive, they've both been on the department. As as little kid, I said I wanted to be a firefighter and then they did a career day at the high school. They were talking about it and it sparked my interest," Hadley said.
About a month or two after the career day, Hadley put in her application to become a junior member in December 2019.
"It's really like being a normal member other than not going on active calls," she said.
When she turned 18 last year, Hadley became a probationary member and completed her certification which lead to her accepting a permanent position in April.
She completed 132 hours of training and is now certified in firefighting, hazardous material operations, CPR and first aid and she completed a live burn component. Part of her training took place in Parkersburg where fires were simulated. When she came out of the building after helping to put the fires out, she was on cloud nine.
"It was something that I had never even thought I'd be able to do, I was really nervous about being able to do that," Hadley said. "I went out and I was happy as could be. That was the first adrenaline rush I got and I was like 'yep, this is for me.'"
As a female firefighter, Hadley said everyone she works with has accepted her and made sure she had the same opportunities as everybody else.
"At first, I wasn't sure if they would be as open to me as they would be helping a young guy (but) all of them have taken me under their wing and taught me everything they know so I can get just as good as they are," she said.
Being a part of the fire department also brought back a sense of community and family as Hadley grew up with a few of the members.
"A few of them I've known outside the department being family friends so it's an extra cushion of protection," she said. "It's like having a bunch of brothers, uncles and dads in a way of protecting and not belittling which is something I don't need to worry about."
Hadley plans to attend West Virginia University at Parkersburg in the fall to study nursing which stemmed from her love of helping people and the influence of her grandmother who was a midwife.
"I'm looking into labor and delivery. The thing I love to do the most is help people, that's where I got nursing and firefighting," she said.
With the healthcare classes and hands-on experience in the field, Hadley said studying nursing and firefighting will go hand in hand.
"I think it'll be a tremendous help. It's two worlds (coming) together for the better. I'll be getting into the medical training before I even start," Hadley said.
Hadley shared some words of encouragement for females who may want to pursue a career in a traditionally male-dominated field.
"It might seem like they have to try extra hard to do something a guy can do, but in reality if you think you're capable, you are capable," Hadley said. "There were times I was there and around six-foot guys who are putting on big gear but when you're doing the same thing and you're up there with them, it's really cool."
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.