SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) - The Santa Clara Fire Department has announced the promotion of Jenn Panko to battalion chief, making her the first female chief officer in the department.
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Panko started working as a Firefighter in 1997 and became a fire captain in 2007, KPIX reported. In her role as EMS battalion chief, she will oversee the delivery of emergency medical services.
She is a founding board member of NorCal Women in the Fire Service, a nonprofit that hosts Girls Fire Camps with fire departments across the Bay Area, the news station said. The camp focuses on teaching high school girls about fire service skills and encourages them to pursue a career in a field, in which only 4% of sworn fire service members are women, the station said.
Panko is also the fire department’s Recruitment Team Leader and Behavioral Health and Wellness Program Coordinator, according to the Santa Clara Fire Department.
"An extensive range of skills is required to successfully respond to the community's needs," Panko said in a statement to KPIX. "The more diverse skills our group of responders possesses, the better prepared we will be for any challenge."
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