Honoring and Congratulating Chief Linda Long and Chief Crystal Yates on Their Historical Promotions within the Philadelphia Fire Department.

WHEREAS, On April 3, 2017, Linda Long became the City of Philadelphia’s first female Fire Battalion Chief and Crystal Yates became the City of Philadelphia’s first African-American female Paramedic Services Chief

; and

WHEREAS, Linda Long and Crystal Yates stand as exceptional women leaders within a 2,500-member Philadelphia Fire Department that is 88 percent male and only 12 percent female; and

WHEREAS,

Chief Linda Long grew up in the Olney section of Philadelphia and moved to Ambler, Pennsylvania at age sixteen. Long always aspired to be a Philadelphia firefighter since she saw her first red fire truck; and

WHEREAS,

At age eighteen after graduating from the Philadelphia High School for Girls, Long tried to join the Fort Washington Fire Company but was turned down due to her gender. Her rejection made her more determined and eventually she became the first female volunteer firefighter at the Wissahickon Volunteer Fire Company; and

WHEREAS, Linda Long joined the Philadelphia Fire Department as a paramedic in 1990 and is the first person, male or female, to rise through the ranks as both a paramedic and a firefighter. Due to her humble work ethic and responsive leadership, Long was promoted to Paramedic Captain in 1997; and

WHEREAS, In 2003 at the age of thirty-nine, Long decided to start over and pursue her childhood dream by becoming a Philadelphia firefighter cadet. Fourteen years later, she was promoted as the City of Philadelphia’s first female Fire Battalion Chief; and

WHEREAS, Chief Crystal Yates joined the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1998. She worked as a paramedic in North Philadelphia, Logan and Mantua before being promoted to Paramedic Lieutenant in 2004; and

WHEREAS, In 2013, Yates and Fire Lt. Lisa Forrest were the first African-American females to be promoted to Paramedic Captain. Four years later, Yates’ commitment to saving lives and her diligence propelled her to become the City of Philadelphia’s first African-American female Paramedic Services Chief

;

and

WHEREAS, Chief Linda Long and Chief Crystal Yates are outstanding women that embody the spirit of extraordinary female leaders that understand the commitment of service to others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby honor and congratulate Chief Linda Long and Chief Crystal Yates on their historical promotions within the Philadelphia Fire Department,

FURTHER RESOLVED,That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to

Linda Long, Philadelphia Fire Battalion Chief, and Crystal Yates, Philadelphia Paramedic Services Chief,

as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End