For Fire Chief Toni Washington, public service was a calling deeply rooted in family and purpose. Raised in a household dedicated to serving others, Washington grew up surrounded by law enforcement and public safety professionals. Her mother was a police officer, her bonus father worked in pardons and parole, and both dad and grandfather served as police officers. That legacy instilled in her an early understanding of the importance of protecting and serving a community.
Washington began her public safety career more than 34 years ago at the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office after earning her Bachelor of Business Administration from Savannah State University. A career in firefighting was not something she was pursuing, but Washington soon found herself entering the profession. While working at the Fire Marshal’s Office, she met several fire chiefs, including one who was actively recruiting women to join his department. When her position with the state ended, she accepted the challenge and joined the City of East Point Fire Department.
Washington was one of the first seven women hired as firefighters in East Point, entering a profession that was still overwhelmingly male. Finishing near the top of her recruit class, she also became the first woman ever assigned to the department’s tiller truck. Determined to grow and lead, she immersed herself in training, earned multiple certifications, and later completed a master’s degree in Managerial Leadership. From the start, she had a clear vision for her future.
“Riding on the back of an open cab fire engine was only a stepping stone,” Washington says. “My goal was to get to the top and get there as fast as I could.”
Her leadership journey continued as she rose through the ranks and eventually served six years as Deputy Fire Chief in East Point under Chief Rosemary Cloud, the first African American female fire chief in the United States. It was an experience that would soon shape the next phase of her career.
In 2009, Washington made history when she was appointed Fire Chief for the City of Decatur, becoming both the first woman and the first African American to lead the department. At the time, she was focused less on the historic milestone and more on the opportunity to serve.
“I was excited to create programs, save lives, mentor others, and protect property,” she says. “I simply wanted to be a public servant.” Only later did the significance of the moment fully sink in. Even today, relatively few women serve as fire chiefs across the United States, and even fewer African American women.
For Washington, representation matters. She hopes that when young girls see her in uniform, they recognize that their own ambitions are possible.
“One of my good friends always says, ‘You can’t be what you can’t see,’” she explains. “I want young girls to know they can become anything they choose.”
Now in her 17th year leading the Decatur Fire Rescue Department, Washington has focused much of her leadership on strengthening the department’s connection with the community. Under her guidance, Decatur has embraced proactive safety initiatives and community risk reduction programs that emphasize prevention and education.
Programs such as free smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installations, CPR and “Stop the Bleed” training, child seat safety installations, senior wellness checks during winter storms, and community home inspections are just a few of the ways the department works to keep residents safe before emergencies happen.
“We must focus on being proactive instead of reactive,” Washington says. “There’s no such thing as a good fire. Every fire means someone has lost something important.”
Equally important is the trust between the fire department and the community it serves. Washington believes that trust must be earned every day through transparency, accountability, and presence. Firefighters in Decatur sign a commitment to the department’s core values: compassion, honesty, teamwork, dedication, motivation, enthusiasm, and positive relationships, ensuring that the highest level of service is always delivered.
Washington remains focused on the future of the profession. Nationwide, women still represent only a small percentage of firefighters, and she believes departments must rethink traditional recruitment practices if they want to change that.
“If we truly want more women in the fire service, our actions must be louder than our words,” she says.
Her message to young women considering careers in public safety is simple but powerful: stay focused, work hard, and don’t let obstacles define your path.
“You can achieve anything,” Washington says. “While there are obstacles for women, there is also opportunity. You control your professional destiny by staying focused on your short and long-term goals, being dedicated, and being committed to the job. Have a plan, work hard, and let’s shatter the glass ceiling.”