Rural Metro Fire, a private firefighting company, just appointed a female fire chief in the company’s 75-year history.

Melissa Hilpert is a 22-year firefighting veteran, beginning her career as a reserve firefighter and EMT in 2000. 

She also spent time as a wildland firefighter, crew boss, rescue diver and assistant fire chief.

She assumed her duties of overseeing Rural Metro’s fire stations in the Yuma area this month, according to the Yuma Sun.

Rural Metro was founded and is still based in Scottsdale, despite operating in 18 states. It now operates as a part of Global Medical Response, after joining the company in 2018.