Former MHCC Student Becomes Portland’s 1st Female Fire Chief

Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) alumna Erin Janssens was sworn into office June 6 as Portland’s first female fire chief.

Now 47, Janssens began her college education in the early 1980s at MHCC. By 1988 she became the second female firefighter in Portland’s Fire Bureau. Today 48 women are employed at Portland Fire and Rescue, the state’s largest fire agency.

Janssens succeeded John Klum early this month following his retirement.

Articles about this former MHCC student may be found at the Oregonian:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/02/erin_janssens_named_to_serve_a.html
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/06/erin_janssens_portlands_first.html