By FireRescue1 Staff
CASCADE, Colo. — A fire department elected its first female chief for the first time in 50 years.
FOX21 reported that the Cascade Fire Department, an all-volunteer department that services a small town in the mountains, elected Karen Bodine as the next chief, who is also the youngest to be elected to the position.
“She has a passion for firefighting, she has her whole life,” outgoing Chief Eric Eide said. “What she is going to bring is enthusiasm.”
The department consists of 15 volunteers who respond to the annual average of 200 calls.
“The commitment we do is pretty significant, we have to train at least once a month, we have to re-certify, we have a certain number of hours we meet each year,” Chief Eide said.
Bodine said she’s prepared for the job, and doesn’t feel like she’s looked differently for being a female.
“The fire service doesn’t play that kind of card. We are all brother and sisters, we all do the same thing. I’ve worked up to it I really have,” Bodine said. “You have a little more pride for growing up here, you put yourself forward a little bit more for the community.”
“Being there when somebody needs you is the best feeling in the world,” Bodine added.