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Tempe's first female firefighter retiring

Posted at 5:11 AM, Jul 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-02 08:11:57-04

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - After more than 25 years on the job, the city of Tempe's first female firefighter is retiring.

Engineer-paramedic Gretchen Chalmers will get a send-off Tuesday with a retirement ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Tempe History Museum.

The 56-year-old became the Tempe Fire Department's first female crew member in 1993 at the age of 30.

She remained the only woman in her position for four years.

In 1999, she was promoted to fire engineer. The following year, she received her paramedic certification.