By FireRescue1 Staff
INDIANA COUNTY, Pa. — After 20 years of service, a firefighter became her department’s first female fire chief.
Since she was a teenager, Shelly Pisano has been involved with firefighting. At 16, she joined the Rossiter Volunteer Fire Department as a junior volunteer. Her father was also a member of the fire service. After completing 88 hours of training, she became a firefighter at 18, reported the Indiana Gazette.
Pisano has served as the department’s secretary, treasurer and assistant fire chief; she officially took office as chief Jan. 20.
As the department’s chief, Pisano will overlook maintenance of department vehicles and equipment, as well as ensure members are properly trained. She said these duties are not new for her.
“It is basically the same things I have been doing for years,” Pisano said.
Although the department only gets around 45 calls per year, Pisano said she rarely misses calls.
“She is no stranger to the fire service. She knows it and knows it well. Shelly is going to do a fine job for the Rossiter Fire Company,” Mel Benamati, president of the fire chiefs association, said.