After more than 20 years, Dawn Hinz, the first career female firefighter in Van Buren County, is hanging up her helmet in pursuit of a different passion.
She hopes her journey will inspire other young girls to go after their dreams.
Hinz has served her last shift as a firefighter paramedic with the South Haven Fire Department this week. “It was the hardest decision of my life to decide to hang up my fire hat. It's been a part of my identity for you know, over two decades,” Hinz said.
She says it was during her senior year of high school that she decided to become a firefighter.
“I liked the challenging aspect and the multipurpose direction, you have the, you know, brawny side of firefighting, and also the critical thinking side of EMS," Hinz said.
As the first full-time female firefighter in Van Buren County, she faced some challenges.