East Liverpool Fire Department’s first female firefighter/paramedic Brittany Hill and newly promoted Assistant Fire Chief Aaron Jones take a moment after their swearing in to get a photo with Fire Chief Antony Cumo. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

EAST LIVERPOOL –The East Liverpool Fire Department was filled with the excitement of the firefighters, family and friends who were there Friday morning to watch as Lt. Aaron Jones was promoted to assistant fire chief and Brittany Hill make history as she was sworn in as the department’s first female firefighter/paramedic.

Jones and Hill were sworn in by Mayor Bobby Smith.

Smith recollected how Jones fought his first fire with him, and it was just the two of them on duty that day.

“I was never so pleased as to what he did that first day and where he is at today,” Smith said. “He comes from a very good family and is a very good man and I just want to congratulate him.”

Jones’s wife Chrisse was joined by their sons Alden, 14, and Everhett, 2, as she pinned his new badge on him.

Jones said the promotion is a big step for him because it will be 13 years this coming August that he has been with the department and this is his third attempt to test the test and finally get the position.

East Liverpool is the only department he has worked for. He started on B shift with the department Aug. 2, 2012.

When Jones, was asked what made him decide to become a firefighter he simply responded, “my dad.”

Jones is the son of retired fire chief Bill Jones, safety service director and Mary Beth Jones, community health nurse with the East Liverpool City Health District.

Jones said that he would never be able to fill his father’s shoes with everything his dad has done as a firefighter and chief but it’s a legacy that he is trying carry on.

He made the decision to become a firefighter when his first child was born. The opportunity came up and he had a family to take care of, so he took the classes and got hired.

“During my time here so far, I have accomplished becoming a firefighter, a paramedic and a fire inspector for the city,” Jones said.

“I never ever ever thought in my days as firefighter that we would be seeing this in my lifetime and I am very proud to see it happen,” Smith said before swearing in Hill. “What is does is show that we have grown a little bit here and this will be the first female firefighter in the history of the fire station and that’s a big thing.”

Hill’s husband Robbie was joined by their children Harlow, 18 months, and Holden Riddle, 3, as he pinned her badge on her.

Hill’s grandparents, who were firefighters in West Virginia, provided some of the inspiration for her to become a firefighter.

She was certified as an EMT before becoming a paramedic and riding with the East Liverpool Fire Department prior to her hiring.

After she started doing the ride time with the department, she realized she wanted to become a career firefighter, and it was the East Liverpool Station that did it for her.

“I’m excited about it, super super excited,” Hill said on making history as the department’s first female firefighter. She noted that she was aware of Flicia Kelsey recently being sworn in as East Liverpool’s first female police officer and Isabella (Izzy) Perez being sworn in with the St. Clair Township Police Department and thinks it’s amazing that the town is hiring females.

“It’s empowering, honestly,” Hill said.

Hill who is a 2013 graduate of East Liverpool High School, said she wants to give back to her hometown which is a reason she wanted to be a part of the East Liverpool Fire Department.

“I have a lot of passion for this type of work and it’s just what I want to do.” Hill said.

Fire Chief Antony Cumo said that the two swearing-ins on Friday was very important to the department since over the last decade most of the crew has retired and now the department is primarily made up of those hired in the past decade.

“Now this is our department, the change, the hiring of a female firefighter,” Cumo said.

Cumo noted that Hill did about 300 hours of ride time with the department while she was going to school for paramedic training and this allowed the firefighters to get to know her, work with her and see her abilities.

At the time she graduated paramedic school, the department was looking for a lateral transfer to fill the position created by Eric Croxall’s retirement last month. So, with everyone knowing her, she went through the interviews and the hiring process.

“I think she is going to be excellent here,” Cumo said. “I think she is going to work out very well.”

Cumo noted that he is proud that the department’s first female firefighter was hired under his watch.

“At the end of the day it’s another firefighter being hired,” Cumo said. “I know everybody else sees it as a female being hired, but I see it as another firefighter being hired who will be held to the same standards as everybody else and go through the same stuff as everybody else. I think it is going to work out well.”

Hill will spend the rest of the year rotating through all the shifts, working to fill in where they need a paramedic and getting to know and work with everybody.

The chief also noted that the promotion of Jones to assistant chief will be a good example for everybody. Cumo said Jones has done a lot around the fire department for many years and has always been a hard worker. The promotion has been a long time coming for him and he will fill that leadership role very well.

The chief indicated there is one more spot to fill in the department. The city will be offering an entry -level test over the summer and hopefully fill that spot and bring the department back to full staff for the first time in three to four years.