03/31/2022
On this last, but not least day of Womenâs History Month, we honor, and celebrate the women of Pennsville Fire Rescue, and EMS! As the Company officer assigned to membership, and personnel, I give you our 6 active, fulltime women of â5 HOUSEâ! There are no âwallflowersâ in this Company! Everyone pulls their weight! And here, we have some of the best!!! We start in photographic order with FF/EMT Jackii Windfelder. Jackii joined the ranks in 2013, earned her Firefighter 1,2, HazMat Tech, and EMT! She is an awesome new Mom, and currently a fulltime employee of the EMS Division! Heather McManus started her Firefighting service life in the early 1990s with the Elsinboro FD. Not too long after, she was hired as a Police Officer for the DRBA, and became the first female Officer assigned to Troop 1, the Delaware Memorial Bridge! Heather moved out of the area for a bit, where she worked for the Cape May County Prosecuters office, and volunteered for the Middle Twp Ambulance. She returned in 2018, where she was hired on to our EMS Division, and was eventually promoted to Captain of EMS! She is trained in all factions, from Engine, Ladder, and Rescue, to Tech Rescue, and EMT! The next 4 women, I actually had the honor of being one of their Instructors at the Salem County Fire Academy! Brooke Catapano joined the Company in 2017, and excelled as she earned her Firefighter 1 certification in 2018, and her EMT shortly after. She is an awesome Mom, and is a first generation Emergency Responder! Brooke not only volunteers in our FD, but is also employed full time in our EMS Division! Isabel Hernandez joined the Company in 2020. After graduating Firefighter 1, where she received the âInstructorâs Awardâ for her strength, and work ethic, she continued on to earn her EMT cert! Isabel is a first generation first responder, and currently volunteers here fulltime, works in our EMS Division part time, and works full time as an EMT for the Bridgeton FD! Courtney Wilson joined the Company in 2020, after earning her Firefighter 1 certification! She also received awards from the Instructor staff, during her Academy time! Courtney works part time at the Westville FD, the Salem County 911 Communications Center as a dispatcher, and is also a member of the Washington Fire Co. in Salem City! Court is a second generation firefighter, with her father also being a member of the Salem FD, and she is pursuing her EMT cert, as well as a full time career in the fire service! Carly Councellor joined the Company in 2020. Being of small stature, she had to push through, and overcome quite a bit, as the work of the job goes. Sheâs done itâŚshe continues to get better, and better with each assignment! Sheâs really coming into her own, and is totally part of the team! She attributes her success to her boyfriend Daniel Gagliardi, and her families both at home, and the firehouse. She joined because she really always wanted to have a way to help people, and make a difference! She is a senior at Pennsville Memorial HS, and is also a member of Woolwich Fire Rescue. Weâd be remissed if we didnât also honor one of our civilian members, Vickee Ashmead! What an awesome person, whom absolutely takes care of us! Miss Vickee started helping us 8 years ago, when she saw how much the Company was spending on food for meetings, and events! She has cooked, baked, and nourished us ever since! She also has helped out with the Companyâs finances, and fund drives! Vickee is an EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PART of our Company! There have been many women who made an impact on, and in 5 House that have either moved on or retired. Such names as Bonnie OâBier, Kara Thomas, and Bethanne Patrick, who happens to have been elected a NJ State Assemblywoman are just a few! Ladies, keep up the outstanding work, and weâll always have your backs! Thank all of you for being a big part of this awesome machine!
Post credit goes to assistant chief Ron Taylor
