Santa Monica Promotes First Female Captain In Department’s 136-Year History

SANTA MONICA, CA — The Santa Monica Fire Department has promoted a longtime fire paramedic to captain — marking the first time a female has held the role in the department’s 136-year history.

Aurora Paaluhi, who has been with the department since 2015, was promoted earlier this month, she said in a Monday video statement on the city’s Instagram page.

“(It’s) something that means a lot to me,” Paaluhi said of being the department's first female captain.

As a female firefighter, Paaluhi said she, when she’s out in the community, she sees the reactions of young girls when they see her.

“They kind of look up, … I can see the gears turning in their head, and they're realizing, ‘Oh that's a female; that's a woman,’” Paaluhi said. “‘I didn't know women could be firefighters.’”

In 2026, Paaluhi said she’s looking forward to the department focusing on “firefighter wellness," such as by offering "preemptive cancer screenings and other wellness screenings.”

“We're moving towards taking care of our bodies and our minds a lot better as firefighters," Paaluhi said. "That way, we can better serve our citizens and come home safe to our families."