VALDOSTA, GA (WTXL) - On Monday, an EF2 rated tornado touched down in Lowndes County, and first responders came to the scene to help rescue those affected.
Being a firefighter is usually thought of as a male dominated career field, but the Valdosta Fire Department has four female firefighters who stand out among the rest.
They were among the responders on the scene after the tornado made its path.
Lieutenant Deanna Rowan was one of those women. She was one of the first on the scene at the Langdale Forest Products building, which collapsed in the aftermath.
Rowan says that the experience was surreal: "It was a little overwhelming just to see it happen. It's stuff you see on TV. You know...it was pretty unexpected. We all came together as a community, as a city and as a county. We had a basic objective, and I think we did a really good job."
As for being in a male-dominated field, it doesn't bother Rowan, who says that she grew up as a "military brat" and followed the career path she wanted to take, regardless of those around her.
"I think a lot of women have misconceptions of what the fire department is. It's an excellent career field. I have two children, a 12 year old and a 13 year old, so it is possible to have a family and to have a career in this field."
