Meet Ilion’s First Woman Firefighter

Congratulations to Mary View who now holds a special title in Ilion's firefighting history.

According to TheValleySide.com View, 25, is the first career female firefighter at a department in not only Ilion, but all of Herkimer County.

View said she has wanted to be a firefighter since she was a child, and followed her Father(A Herkimer Deputy Chief) and her Grandfather(formerly of the Herkimer FD) into the profession.

Ilion Chief Robert Paddock told The Valley Side that the reason there has never been a woman in a full-time position in the department is the lack of candidates.

Of course all candidates have to meet the right criteria for firefighting, but statistically, a lot less women enter the profession than men.

View was officially introduced as Ilion's first full-time female firefighter in the Ilion FD's 168 year history to the public at an Ilion Board meeting on February 14.

BONUS VIDEO