All woman firefighting crew respond to gas line rupture to make history in Brock Township

A firefighting crew made a little history in Brock Township Wednesday when four women from the Sunderland station responded to a gas line rupture – the first all women fire crew at a fire call in the township’s history.

“History was made today,” said Brock Fire Chief said of the crew from Pump 81 station. “Great job.”

Brock’s fire department is comprised of 84 volunteer firefighters at three stations who are on-call to respond to emergencies, with those available reporting to their assigned stations to provide firefighting and emergency services.

Harrison and Madison Bath – the department’s Fire Prevention Officer and one of the four women who responded to the gas line rupture – are the only full-time employees.

Harrison said the four – Bath, Olivia Zonnenberg, April Campbell and Cyndi Sobkowicz – were actually on their way to a fire prevention event at a summer camp when the call came in.

“I joked that they were going to get a fire call as they were going out the door,” the Chief said. “And they did.”

The response on social media was universally positive after Harrison posted the news on Facebook:

• “Bloody awesome girl power! Congratulations Pump 81 ladies!” – Colleen
• “Brock Township Fire Department is definitely in great hands all the way around!” – Jackie
• “Great job! Proud of you.” – Steve
• “Okay, that’s kickass!” – Sara
• “Thanks for your great work and also for the recognition of careers for women!” – Jan