Women in the Fire Service

Women began joining the fire service in Elkton in the 1970s, entering the all-male Singerly Fire Company ranks as first responders.  These trailblazers started with emergency medical services but soon expanded into firefighting.  Over forty years later, they are found driving the apparatus, entering blazing buildings, providing pre-hospital acute care, and commanding incidents.

It certainly was a milestone in fire service history, as the first trailblazers met the challenge of leading the way.  Those fire department pioneers in Elkton, beginning with the first two waves in 1975 and 1976, were Doris Swyka, Rosemary Culley, Helen Atkinson, Ann Boulden, Ruby Spry, and Shirley Herring.

After completing an intensive EMT course, this group learned the ropes and passed a demanding examination. Soon, they were answering ambulance calls alongside male colleagues. They never considered it a big deal, but in later years, other young women joining the fire department had female first responders as role models, which wasn’t available to those 1970s trailblazers. Also, in a few more years, additional women joined to become firefighters.

In the mid-1970s, Ann Boulden and Ruby Spry (behind bake table (L to R) sold baked goods for the company while also staffing the ambulance. Another crew member, Paul Burr, is in the back of the ambulance with a portable radio monitoring emergency traffic.

Along these lines, another entry was added to the record on Feb. 2, 2015, when Michelle Walker-Ewing became the chief of Singerly Fire Company.  The 38th commander to take operational charge of the Elkton unit was also the first woman to attain the top rank in the county.  Assuming the leadership reigns came naturally for the veteran commander, with both volunteer and career experience.  Chief Ewing started as a rookie in 1981, joining the Community Fire Company of Rising Sun when she turned 16.

At a time when the service was mostly male, the recruit worked her way up the ranks, acquiring credentials as a firefighter, EMT, and paramedic.  She also launched a career in the Cecil County Dept. of Emergency Services.  After 26 years of service there, the chief retired as the deputy director, the agency’s second in command.

For More on Women in the Fire Service, see

Martha Finley, Joined the Fire Company in 1892

Chief Michelle Walker-Ewing
Chief Michelle Walker-Ewing became the first woman to command a Cecil County fire company in 2015.

Note

The first women in the fire service in Elkton, serving with the Singerly Fire Company (along with the date of acceptance as a probationary member).

Helen Atkinson, Feb. 2, 1975

Ann Boulden, Feb. 2, 1975

Ruby Spry, Feb. 2, 1975

Rosemary Culley

Shirley Herring, Nov. 10, 1975

Doris Swyka, Jan. 12, 1976

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