First Black Woman Promoted To Fire Captain In Baltimore County

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — The Baltimore County Fire Department has promoted the first Black woman to the rank of captain.

The new promotion makes April Owens the highest-ranking Black woman ever at the fire department.

Owen was a lieutenant prior to her promotion.

According to Owens, it was her brother, a firefighter in Montgomery County, who inspired her to also get into the fire service.

She served as a cadet with the Baltimore City Fire Department before ultimately joining the Baltimore County Fire Department.