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PLYMOUTH — Prior to 2018, Luzerne County had few full-time female firefighters in its history.

Now, there are two who could very well be around for decades to come.

Plymouth Borough hired Lori Bolesta in May as a full-time firefighter/fire truck driver.

Bolesta, 34, is certified as a structural firefighter, Pennsylvania state EMT and a vehicle and special vehicle rescue technician. She has served as member of Plymouth Fire Company No. 1 and Ambulance for more than 20 years.

Then in December, A’Leia Stull was hired as a full-time firefighter/paramedic in the Kingston-Forty Fort Fire Department.

Stull, 29, of Old Forge, is married and has a son, 7.

The historical significance aside, both Bolesta and Stull were, according to their fire chiefs and municipal officials, the most qualified candidates for their respective positions.

Before these two women, few full-time female firefighters are known to history.

However, an alert reader did send the Times Leader a 1980 news clipping about Nanticoke hiring its first woman firefighter. Her name was Deborah Waselus.

Dream come true

Bolesta said she was 14 years old when she first started hanging around Plymouth’s Fire Co. 1 on Gaylord Avenue.

“Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be a fireman,” Bolesta said. “When I was small, my father was always there and he would take me to the fire house to help out.”

Prior to becoming a firefighter, Bolesta said she worked as a systems network coordinator at Federal Hearings and Appeals in Plymouth.

Bolesta said the borough now has three full-time fire truck drivers — each work 50 hours per week. The other two drivers are Robert Miller and Brian Oppelt.

Since her appointment in May, Bolesta said she has driven the truck on quite a few responses, including one structure fire.

“It’s a lot of responsibility,” she said. “We have to basically get the truck to the scene and in position to connect to a water supply and then get set up.”

When she’s not driving the truck, Bolesta said there are many duties to perform on the truck, equipment and the fire house itself.

“Everything has to be in a position so that at any point, when an alarm comes in, everything is ready,” Bolesta said.

She is certain that her gender had nothing to do with her getting hired.

“It’s an extensive process,” she said. “All of my training over the years had everything to do with my getting this job.”

Plymouth No. 1 Fire Co. currently has 22 active members and another 100 inactive or retired members.

Bolesta said recruitment and retention of volunteers is much more difficult these days than in years past.

“It’s not easy to get members and to keep them,” Bolesta said. “And I’m not sure why that is.”

Stull topped list

Kingston-Forty Fort Fire Chief Frank Guido said Stull was sworn in Monday night. He said she began training Dec. 14.

“It was a very competitive Civil Service Commission process,” Guido said. “She was top in physical agility and in the written exam. She was by far the best candidate. “

Guido said Kingston-Forty Fort has 31 full-time firefighters.

Stull, whose husband is also a career firefighter, said she has been volunteering at fire companies since 2006.

“It’s the servitude that gets me,” Stull said. “Every day you have a chance to get out there and help people — to make a difference in people’s lives — regardless of the severity of the situation.”

Stull said when she got the call that she was being hired, she wasn’t sure how to express herself. She was overwhelmed and honored to have been selected.

“When I got here, I was welcomed with open arms by all my fellow firefighters,” she said. “Most of them are career firefighters. They have all helped me to learn and adjust to my new job.”

Stull and Bolesta each said they are honored to work alongside each other in firefighting.

“It didn’t come easy,” Stull said. “We tested right along with the men.”

A’Leia Stull is believed to be the first full-time female firefighter/paramedic in the history of the Kingston-Forty Fort Fire Department.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011119Stull2-2.jpg.optimal.jpgA’Leia Stull is believed to be the first full-time female firefighter/paramedic in the history of the Kingston-Forty Fort Fire Department. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

A’Leia Stull, female firefighter/paramedic for Kingston-Forty Fort, is shown behind the wheel of a rescue vehicle.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011119Stull1-2.jpg.optimal.jpgA’Leia Stull, female firefighter/paramedic for Kingston-Forty Fort, is shown behind the wheel of a rescue vehicle. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Lori Bolesta is one of the first female firefighters to be employed full time in Luzerne County history. She was hired in May and began working in Plymouth Borough in June as a full-time firefighter/fire truck driver.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011119Bolesta1-2.jpg.optimal.jpgLori Bolesta is one of the first female firefighters to be employed full time in Luzerne County history. She was hired in May and began working in Plymouth Borough in June as a full-time firefighter/fire truck driver. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader

Lori Bolesta, one of the first female firefighters to be employed full time in Luzerne County, checks the equipment on a fire truck at Plymouth Fire Co. No. 1.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011119Bolesta2-2.jpg.optimal.jpgLori Bolesta, one of the first female firefighters to be employed full time in Luzerne County, checks the equipment on a fire truck at Plymouth Fire Co. No. 1. Aimee Dilger | Times Leader
New hires among county’s first full-time female firefighters

By Bill O’Boyle

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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.