She’s puts the “blaze” in trailblazer!
The first female FDNY Deputy Chief ever was promoted Friday, as top brass hailed her for “shattering the glass ceiling” in the male-dominated field.
Battalion Chief Michele Fitzsimmons — a 24-year veteran who joined the Bravest a few months before 9/11— was named Deputy Chief of fire operations at a packed promotion ceremony in Queens.
“I hope that other women who are in the department now can see themselves rising through the ranks,” Fitzsimmons, 55, told reporters after the event at at Queens College. “I also hope that young girls can see themselves as being firefighters.”
Family support helped her pull off the impressive career climb, she said.
“All the sacrifice paid off and it’s made a big difference. I was able to break the glass ceiling thanks to the support of all my family,” she said.
An audience of hundreds roared with applause as she accepted the prestigious new job title on stage with a cheerful smile.
Fitzsimmons began her career with the FDNY in May 2001, just four months before 9/11 — and six “probies” from her class were killed responding to the terrorist attacks.
“[I’m] thinking about the six guys from my class who didn’t get to have the full career that I did, and the sacrifice that they made,” she said, according to an FDNY Instagram post. “I was given an opportunity they never had.”
Fitzsimmons comes from a long line firefighters, including her great-grandfather, grandfather and sister.
At the event Friday, Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker called her inspiring.
“You are showing women and girls everywhere what leadership looks like,” he said.
“You are shattering the glass ceiling for women everywhere, and reminding our city that promotional opportunities at FDNY know no limits.”
A total of 70 FDNY staffers were promoted at the ceremony, including four Battalion Chiefs,16 Captains and 18 Lieutenants.
After the event, Fitzsimmons’ wife, Dianna Fitztola, said she’s thrilled the FDNY values “diversity.”
“It took me a while to get used to what the FDNY stands for,” she said — adding she didn’t “grow up in a firefighting family” and isn’t from New York.
“But I cannot be more proud of how this group of people comes together to save lives [and] promote women who do the work,” she said.