Taylor still wet behind ears as first female firefighter
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?The guys are still trying to get used to the idea of me being here,? said Taylor. ?They don?t know how to handle the situation yet. They are overly cautious and hesitant. Women are not as fragile as they think we are.?
As a woman, not being overly sensitive is a necessity in what was until recently an all-male department.
?They are worried about the political aspects of it,? said Taylor. ?I?ve learned guys are going to cut up and joke and I just have to go with the flow. If you don?t like it, just walk away. It?s no big deal.?
Knowing she has broken a gender barrier doesn?t phase Taylor.
?I figured if men could do it,? said Taylor, ?I was going to do it one way or another. I was determined.?
Taylor?s oldest son, Christian, and her husband, Roger, encouraged her to become a firefighter. After going through the necessary initial training, Taylor realized what her son and husband already knew.
?I loved it,? said Taylor. ?I didn?t think I would. I knew I wanted to help people. Now, I get to help a lot of people. Every day is different.?
It didn?t take long for her mom and dad, Wanda and Ralph Christian, to join the excitement.
?My mom and dad were a little more hesitant,? said Taylor, ?but they supported my decision. When I got an interview for this position, my mom was ecstatic. They say it?s hard being married to a firefighter but being the parents of a firefighter is harder.?
Along with the job, comes adrenaline.
?It?s an adrenaline rush,? said Taylor. ?If you?re asleep at night and get a call, you are up just like that. Your heart starts racing and finally you just settle down and do what you have to do. Afterwards, you go home, kiss your kids good night, and tell them you love them.?
Outside of her job, encouraging others is something Taylor takes seriously.
?If you have a dream,? said Taylor, ?go for it. If you are a woman, don?t let anybody tell you that you can?t do it. When you start believing everybody else, then you will tell yourself you can?t.?
Leading by example, Taylor may have encouraged other members of her family.
?My husband was a firefighter first,? said Taylor. ?Now, my oldest son wants to become a firefighter. My oldest nephew can already tell you anything you need to know about fire fighting. We are hoping to turn this into a legacy.?
Taylor also has a younger son Casey. Taylor?s long-term plans are simple: Not to ever give up, and to retire from McMinnville Fire Department many years from now.