Clayton Fire Promotes First Female Engineer in Department’s History
The Clayton Fire Department is proud to announce the promotion of Rena Smith-Seitz to the position of Engineer. This milestone not only recognizes her dedication and skill but also marks a historic first for the department. Smith-Seitz is the first full-time female Engineer in the organization’s more than 150-year history.
Smith-Seitz joined the Clayton Fire Department in 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “She quickly established herself as a hardworking and reliable firefighter, gaining experience across all three shifts and at multiple stations,” said Fire Chief David Ranes. She served as the most senior firefighter on her truck before completing the department’s rigorous engineering process earlier this year.
“As part of our job progression, we have certain expectations and requirements, such as classes, certifications, and proficiencies, that we need to meet to move up,” said Smith-Seitz. “I had fulfilled all the requirements and was ready to take the next step. For me, it wasn’t just about a job title. It was about challenging myself and continuing to grow in a career I’m passionate about.”
The road to becoming an Engineer involves advanced certifications, including completion of all driver-operator blocks, aerial operations, water supply logistics, rescue positioning, and earning a Class B driver’s license. Smith-Seitz also holds instructor and fire officer certifications and has extensive experience with technical rescue operations and large vehicle operations.
The role of an Engineer is far more than simply driving a fire engine. “Once we’re on the scene of an incident, we pump the water from the truck to the fire,” Smith-Seitz explained. “But we’re also responsible for crew safety, maintaining the water supply, and assisting EMS on medical calls. The Engineer is often the first one out of the station and the last one to leave the scene.”
For Smith-Seitz, the responsibility of being an Engineer is one she embraces. “I think my favorite part of the job is that I like to help people on the worst day of their life,” she said. “I like to come in and be able to fix things and make whatever’s going on stop happening. People hear the siren, they see the big red truck, and they know someone’s coming to help.”
As one of the first full-time female firefighters in Clayton, and now the first female Engineer, Smith-Seitz recognizes the importance of visibility. She recalled a moment when a mother and her daughter saw a Clayton fire truck at the grocery store.
“The little girl said, ‘She drives by our house all the time!’ I asked, ‘Me specifically, or the fire department?’ And the mom said, ‘We know it’s you. We recognize your hair.’ And I told her, ‘Well, you’re going to see me in the front seat now.’”
Reflecting on her journey, Smith-Seitz credits her progress to persistence and community. “Sometimes it’s challenging, particularly in a field where the ratio of men to women is so high,” she expressed. “But I had people here I trusted, people who answered my questions and made space for me to grow.”
As of 2020, women comprised approximately nine percent of all firefighters nationwide, totaling around 90,000 individuals, according to the National Fire Protection Association. This includes both career and volunteer firefighters.
Looking ahead, Smith-Seitz sees her role as one of both service and continual improvement. “It’s about figuring out how we can do better. What is working? What’s not? What do we need to change for the future?”
With the building of two new public safety facilities planned, she’s also excited about the opportunities for growth within the Clayton Fire Department, including advancement toward possibly becoming a fire captain and helping shape the future of the department.
