Fire Service Women of Vision and Leadership

Toni Washington Toni Washington began her fi re service career in the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s o ffi ce, and then, in the 1990’s, she was Toni Washington Toni Washington began her fi re service career in the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s o ffi ce, and then, in the 1990’s, she was

hired as a fi re fi ghter with the City of East Point (GA) Fire Department. Her fi re service story is one of hard work, perseverance, and success that I want to highlight during this Women’s History Month. Toni rose through the ranks of the East Point Fire Department and achieved the position of Deputy Fire Chief. In 2009, she left East Point and became the Fire Chief and Emergency Manager in the Decatur (GA) Fire Department – where she continues to serve. Chief Washington is the fi rst woman, and the fi rst African American, to serve as Decatur’s Fire Chief. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Marketing and Management, and a master’s in Managerial Leadership, Toni prides herself on the expansive mission of her department. In addition to providing emergency services relating to fi re, EMS, HAZ MAT, etc., Decatur focuses on prevention and public education throughout the community. In her own words, they are a “community-based” organization that seeks to PREVENT injuries and deaths. Chief Washington hired as a fi re fi ghter with the City of East Point (GA) Fire Department. Her fi re service story is one of hard work, perseverance, and success that I want to highlight during this Women’s History Month. Toni rose through the ranks of the East Point Fire Department and achieved the position of Deputy Fire Chief. In 2009, she left East Point and became the Fire Chief and Emergency Manager in the Decatur (GA) Fire Department – where she continues to serve. Chief Washington is the fi rst woman, and the fi rst African American, to serve as Decatur’s Fire Chief. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Marketing and Management, and a master’s in Managerial Leadership, Toni prides herself on the expansive mission of her department. In addition to providing emergency services relating to fi re, EMS, HAZ MAT, etc., Decatur focuses on prevention and public education throughout the community. In her own words, they are a “community-based” organization that seeks to PREVENT injuries and deaths. Chief Washington Toni Washington began her fire service career in the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s office, and then, in the 1990s, she was hired as a firefighter with the City of East Point (Georgia) Fire Department. Her fire service story is one of hard work, perseverance, and success that I want to highlight during this Women’s History Month. Toni rose through the ranks of the East Point Fire Department and achieved the position of deputy chief. In 2009, she left East Point and became the fire chief and emergency manager in the Decatur (Georgia) Fire Department, where she continues to serve. Toni is the first woman, and the first African American, to serve as Decatur’s fire chief. With a bachelor’s degree in business administration – marketing and management, and a master’s in managerial leadership, Toni prides herself on the expansive mission of her department. In addition to providing emergency services relating to fire, EMS, hazmat, etc., Decatur focuses on prevention and public education throughout the community. In her own words, they are a community-based organization that seeks to prevent injuries and deaths. Toni is active in her community as well as in the national fire service. She serves as chair of the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation Board of Directors; Secretary-Treasurer of Women in Fire;

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