CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Fire Department is now seeing more women enter the academy, a traditionally male-dominated profession.
Last month, three female cadets graduated to become the newest members to join its rank and file.
What You Need To Know
- The Cleveland Fire Department is making strides when it comes to having more women recruits
- Yolanda McKay recently became a firefighter
- McKay was inspired by her cousin Daphne Tyus, who recently retired from CFD after 30 years
Yolanda McKay was one of those graduates.
“That was a very proud moment,” said McKay.
McKay, who turned 40 recently, marked the milestone birthday by becoming a firefighter.
“This is the most mentally and physically challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life,” said McKay, a mother of four children.
Though most of her colleagues are men, McKay is helping to change that. She’s now one of a dozen women in the department.
“I feel like women shouldn’t be afraid to do things that they want to do,” she said.
McKay follows in the footsteps of her cousin, Daphne Tyus, who recently retired after being a member of CFD for over 30 years.
“I’m very happy to see this, 30 years ago that I was sitting in the same place doing the same thing,” Tyus said.
A fire station is like a second home to many firefighters. The camaraderie, the support, McKay said, is helpful in a profession that’s not an easy one.
“Our schedule is 24 hours on, 48 hours off,” said McKay, whose first month on the job had little downtime. In fact, she was sent off on a call in the middle of her interview with Spectrum News.
Though stressful, McKay said she wouldn’t have it any other way, urging others to join the academy.
“That’s what my passion is, to help people," she said.