Wilmer welcomes 1st female fire fighter

WILMER – The City of Wilmer has hired its first female fire fighter.

The city recently welcomed 37-year-old Maria Gabriela Gillen after she was on the fire chief’s radar since she volunteered for the department about four years ago.

Wilmer Fire Chief Mark Hamilton said, “I’ve known Gabby almost four years now. “She completed her education and was first hired in Wiley before coming here.”

Gillen had decided she was ready for a location change and contacted Wilmer. There was a position available – and she was hired.

The department of 12 fulltime fire fighters and paramedics have welcomed Gillen with open arms.

In part because in the world of fire-fighting, there is no designation between male and female – both complete the exact training.

Gillen said she decided to go to school and achieve a position of fire fighter, “Because I have two little girls, and they needed a role model in their life.”

She said too, “This is something that shares two things I really like doing. One is working on big trucks, and the other is medical.”

All firefighters and paramedics in Wilmer are also cross trained, allowing for the staff to do both jobs effectively.

Prior to Gillen’s move into firefighting, she worked in the medical field as a dental assistant for nine years.

“I believe to become a firefighter, one must have a servant heart, and I knew very early in life what fulfilled me the most was helping others.”

It was a neighbor of hers she knew well who approached her one day and gave her the idea of pursuing a career with the fire department.

“This is good for us,” Hamilton concluded. “She is bilingual, and we are predominately Hispanic in this city. She is female, and I think it is a win-win.”