MFRD Celebrates Black History

The Mobile Fire-Rescue Department celebrates the achievements and rich legacies of Mobile's men and women of color in the fire service and EMS. For decades, black firefighters have given their lives, contributing wisdom, experience, and their bodies enhancing Mobile's fire department and protecting the City of Mobile.

From Creole firefighters and the first all-African American fire company to the organization of the Professional Black Firefighters Association and the first black women to serve as firefighters in Mobile, African American firefighters have blazed trails in the fire service for many generations.

Black history, though, is not just a long-since-passed era. Black history is now, with many active duty firefighters representing historic achievements all their own:

• Deputy Chief Alex Trenier and FF John Michael Trenier, continue their storied, family lineage, with Trenier family members serving as Mobile firefighters in almost every generation for more than 120 years.

• Firefighter Ann Williams is the first African-American woman hired as a Firefighter by the City of Mobile, currently serving 26+ years. Five African-American women have since joined MFRD in the past 3 years.

• With more than 40 years of active service, District Chief Elbert Cross is the longest tenured black firefighter in the history of Mobile County.

• Captain Jermaine Goosby currently serves as a training officer with MFRD's Training Division, regularly assisting with practice sessions for the demanding physical ability test. Captain Goosby plays a pivotal role in recruiting and mentoring new, diverse classes of firefighters.

• Hired with Recruit Class 21-01, Paramedic Firefighter Damonique Evans officially became the first black woman to serve the City of Mobile as a Paramedic Firefighter.

Black history IS Mobile history. Mobile firefighters continue to pioneer for culture change and progress toward a future of opportunity, through diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Celebrate Black History:

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/blog/ci-021722.html