KCKFD’s first female firefighter reflects on trials, tribulations: ‘I went through a lot’

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - The current women of the KCK Fire Department stand on the shoulders of Sheila Lenoir. She became the first female firefighter there in 1992. Being both black and a woman, her experience was anything but easy and she’s sharing her story for the first time exclusively with KCTV5.

“On behalf of the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department, I would like to award you a certificate of appreciation thanking you for your service with the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department,” said Assistant Chief Scott Schaunaman at a ceremony on February 22.

Things have come full circle for Lenoir this month. It’s been forty years since the first time she walked through the doors of the KCK Fire Department in 1984.

“It’s amazing, but a lot of different things are here that we didn’t have back then but yeah, it’s a lot different,” said Lenoir.

“Different” would be an understatement to compare today’s fire department to the one she knew more than three decades ago. Of the roughly 400 employees in the department at the time, about 40 were African American and only one was female.

“What was it like being the first female firefighter? Challenging,” said Lenoir, holding back tears.

Lenoir started as a clerk typist in 1984 before moving up the ranks to firefighter and fire inspector.

“When I decided I wanted to be a firefighter, some of the people that I spoke with, they quit talking to me– all the way up to the fire chief. So that was an eye opener for me because I didn’t grow up knowing about racism,” she said.

One person who didn’t turn their back was the former driver-turned-battalion chief Granvile O’Neal. He showed her the ropes of what it took to become a firefighter.

“We started training and I think we trained for almost two years to get her physically where she needed to be because she could not do a pullup. Sit-ups were a problem,” he said.

A single mother, Lenoir was determined to push through the physical challenges to do the unthinkable. She wanted to earn a spot as a woman in a man’s world.

“I didn’t have any idea the magnitude of what it meant when I was trying to be a firefighter, I’m thinking about providing for my kids. I’m not thinking about [the] first female firefighter, that was not my thought,” she said.

With the help of O’Neal, she became prepared for the required series of tests. One of those tests included carrying a human-sized bag. The test was designed to emulate rescuing a person from a burning building.

Out of 138 applicants, she eventually made the top tier.

“It taught me a lot of good. It taught me how to turn a negative into a positive. That was the biggest thing I think I learned from being here,” said Lenoir.

Even when rising in the ranks, there was pushback from colleagues who felt she didn’t deserve a seat at the table.

“People can be really, really cruel,” she reveals, “My first call, there was poop in my boots. I don’t know if I’m supposed to say that but yeah, oh I went through a lot.”

Retired fire marshal George Steens became an ally to Lenoir in the department.

“They didn’t think it was a lady’s job. But I didn’t think that way. I was proud of her for getting through all of that,” said Steens.

Although Steens says he felt he didn’t have the power to change a system that wasn’t ready to accept women, he did what he could to make her feel welcome.

“I was always taught everyone should have the opportunity to do everything and as far as a lady is concerned, they can do the job just as well as some men can, sometimes better,” he said.

Lenoir says she grew up on the job, spending much of her adult life at the department up until her retirement.

“I hated for her to retire but she said ‘I can’t take this,” said O’Neal.

Burnt out, Lenoir put away her bunker gear for good in May 2011 when she retired. These days, Lenoir works as a hostess at Gates BBQ restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri.

More than a decade after her retirement, on February 22, 2024, KCFD recognized her for her service.

“It’s an encouragement to women everywhere, that no, you can be a firefighter,” said O’Neal.

“It should’ve been a long time ago. There are a lot of things that should’ve been a long time ago. Especially being the first lady and the first black female,” said Steens.

At the time of her retirement, Lenoir says there were 21 female firefighters. Today, 36 women hold that title, and it all started with Sheila Lenoir.

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