One hundred and forty six years ago, the Village of River Forest was first incorporated as a municipality.
Now, nearly a century and a half later, River Forest has reached a new landmark moment — welcoming its first female firefighter.
At the village’s July 20 board meeting, Julia Massey blazed a new trail in town, officially being sworn in as one of the River Forest Fire Department’s newest faces and the municipality’s first-time, boots-on-the ground female firefighter.
For Chief Tom Gaertner, Massey’s hiring isn’t just a significant moment for the fire department — it’s an opportunity to showcase to River Forest residents the impact that having diversity in the workplace benefits everyone.
“Julia earned this role the same way every candidate does, through rigorous testing and demonstrated skill — and that’s what matters most,” Gaertner said. “At the same time, it’s meaningful that young people in River Forest can now see a broader range of possibilities in this profession. Diversity on our crews makes us better at serving this community, in how we problem solve on-scene and how we connect with the residents we protect. Julia will build her own reputation the way every firefighter/paramedic here does — through her performance on calls. That’s what will define her career.”
Massey, a 24-year-old Elmwood Park native, is the first in her family to work in firefighting and Emergency Medical Services. She says her interest in working in the field blossomed after working in an emergency room and waiting to transition out of hospital care roles.
“I always wanted to work in the medical field growing up, which led me to a variety of jobs to gain different experience,” she said. “Once I got my EMT license, I quickly figured out that I wanted to become a firefighter and paramedic.”
Following her graduation last month from the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Paramedic Program, Massey is currently preparing for her first day on the job in River Forest through rigorous daily training at the Romeoville Fire Academy.
According to Gaertner, Massey was among 15 applicants vying for two department vacancies this year. Like all prospective firefighters, she underwent a meticulous standard testing process, which included a written exam, in-person interviews, background check, psychological exam and polygraph.
After all exam areas were scored, Gaertner says a ranking list was then compiled, from the best total scoring candidates down to the lowest. He says Massey scored at the very top of the list, thus being called back first for hiring.
Currently, the River Forest Fire Department has 23 firefighters on staff.
Since being hired, Massey says she is eager to begin her firefighting career in River Forest and at the same time, hopefully inspire young girls in the neighborhood to explore careers in public service.
“I am most looking forward to learning from the people around me, putting newly developed skills into practice and for the opportunity to serve the River Forest community,” she said. “I would say that female representation is important in all fields of work because it reinforces the idea to younger girls that they are capable of anything they set their minds to.”
Gaertner agrees, adding that while Massey was hired for her strengths regardless of gender, he hopes her onboarding with the department can demonstrate to the entire village that for people who are “willing to do the work,” success in the field of firefighting and public service can be something people of all backgrounds can aspire to have.
“I hope [Massey’s hiring] demonstrates that the River Forest Fire Department is committed to hiring the best possible people to serve this community — full stop,” he said. “Julia met every standard our profession requires, and her success shows that the path to this career is open to anyone willing to do the work. Beyond that, I hope it shows our residents that the department reflects the community we protect, and that when a young person in this village sees a fire truck go by, they can picture themselves in that seat one day, regardless of who they are.”