Linda Brown: Omaha’s Trailblazing Firefighter
Linda Brown
Legacy Maker | First African American female firefighter & captain in Omaha
Story by Aniya Porter
Linda Brown (February 20, 1943 – March 25, 2018) made history in 1987 when she became the first African American female firefighter in the Omaha Fire Department, breaking barriers in a profession long dominated by men and white men in particular.
Brown grew up during a period of change in Omaha’s fire service. Although African Americans had been part of the Omaha Fire Department since its early years and the department formally integrated in 1957, women were not hired until the late 1980s. In 1987, the department brought its first class of female firefighters, including Brown, at a time when stations lacked separate locker rooms and some colleagues questioned women’s ability to meet the physical demands of the job.
Throughout her career, Brown proved her capabilities on the job and in the community. In 1990, she became the first woman in the department to be certified as a paramedic, expanding her role in emergency response and patient care. Three years later, in 1997, she was promoted to captain, another first for an African American woman in the Omaha Fire Department. Brown served with distinction for two decades before retiring in 2007.
Brown’s career unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing challenges and processes within the department. Her early years on the job were marked by evolving norms and persistent efforts to increase diversity and representation. In 2002, she was an active supporter of an affirmative action plan intended to broaden hiring and promotion opportunities, a stance that underscored her commitment to equity and inclusion even after a long career of service.
As a pioneer in emergency services, Brown has a visible presence in a field historically resistant to women and people of color. She mentored young firefighters and helped define a pathway for others to follow.
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