After 189 years without a female lieutenant, the New Britain Fire Department now has two.
Petra Chesanek and Lauren Burns have been serving as the department’s first female supervisors since the spring, but were formally recognized this week at one of its biggest promotion ceremonies in history.
“This is exciting. Both of them have expressed the desire to move up the ranks, and I have no doubt one of them will also become the department’s first female captain,” Chief Raul Ortiz said. “Maybe both of them will become captains. They certainly have the talent.” Chesanek and Burns were among 14 firefighters and officers in the 130-member department whose promotions were marked with the ceremony at Walnut Hill Park.
“Having the first two women lieutenants is a historic moment in and of itself,” said Mayor Erin Stewart, who attended the ceremony.