CHICOPEE - It typically takes three to staff an engine for the Chicopee Fire Department. On Friday, for the first time in the city's history, an engine was staffed by all women.
Lt. Dina Brunetti and firefighters Val Stein and Kristen Therrien were the women on that shift. Although they said it was just another day at work, they are happy they could be a part of history and break the stereotypes around firefighting.
"People still say 'firemen' instead of firefighter," said Lt. Brunetti. "There's definitely been some funny questions asked when people hear I'm on the fire department, like 'Do you really drive the big trucks?' or 'Do you really go in the fire?' I'm sure no man has been asked that."
Those stereotypes about women firefighters don't stop these ladies from doing their job.
"We do just the same amount of work as every man in this department and sometimes more," said Stein.
Others say the stereotypes motivate them.
"Every day is just another day to prove yourself," Therrien said.
Not only is it the first time in Chicopee a fire station was staffed by an all female crew, but it's also on Engine 7 -- which was closed for years and recently just started operating again.
"It's great that we can get three females together on one piece at the same time," said Therrien. "A lot of guys like going to work and just being with the guys. This is what it's like. but being around with the gals."
Along with fighting the fires, these women do all the same things as the men in the department.
"Sometimes we are on the ambulance, sometimes we are on the engine. We are either driving or on the jump seat or driving the tower. Or, if we have extra crew, we jump on the tower," said Stein.
The women in the department hope that this is just one step in the right direction to help break the stigma that firefighters can only be men.
"It's 2020. So hopefully towards the end of my career this becomes the normal of the fire department," Lt. Brunetti said.