VIDEO: History is being made at the Bakersfield Fire Department with its very first African American deputy fire chief. โI went to Sing Lum Elementary, and I graduated from Stockdale High School, Mustangs 1998 in the southwest part of town,โ said Bryce Patterson, BFDโs new deputy chief. Born and raised in southwest Bakersfield, Patterson said he had always dreamed of becoming a firefighter. โI come from a single mom family, my mom was the rock in my life,โ said Patterson. โI had aspirations to be a firefighter at a very young age, and she supported that.
She worked hard โ it cost money at that age to get involved, and she provided those opportunities for me.โ Now, that dream has become a reality. โIโve been with the Bakersfield Fire Department for 21 years. Next Saturday is my anniversary. I started actually with the Fire Department when I was 16 as an Explorer Cadet, so the opportunities allowed me to come and to participate.โ Patterson is the highest-ranking African American in the history of Bakersfield Fire, and has helped advance several key programs by spearheading the Arson Battalion.
However, he says his racial identity is beside the point; serving his community is what matters most. โIโve never looked at my advancements in the organization based off of the color of my skin,โ said Patterson. โI want the focus on being a good human being and character, being an individual with integrity and just to be a part of an organization that supports me. Like I said, I grew up in this organization, and a lot of people in this organization โ Black, White, Hispanic, Asian โ came alongside me and supported me, and brought me under their wings to develop me into the leader I am today.โ
