LA Co. Fire Department Welcomes First-Ever Black Female Battalion Chief

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles County Fire Department has named its first-ever African American female battalion chief.

Veronie Small was promoted Wednesday during a ceremony in Commerce.

She is a 25-year veteran of the department and became LA County Fire's first black woman captain in 2000.

Small says she hopes her example will inspire more women to become firefighters.