Beth Ezell becomes the first female WCFD firefighter to be promoted to engineer

Beth Ezell on Monday became the first female since the Webb City Fire Department was founded in 1882 to be promoted above the rank of firefighter.

After mentioning that, Fire Chief Andrew Roughton was quick to add her promotion “is not just because she’s a woman. She worked hard and is a great asset to the city.”

Roughton said he has known Ezell since she was 18. Her father, Gerald Ezell, is Joplin’s fire chief.

When she was hired six years ago, Roughton said not everyone was certain she would succeed, but she has proven herself.

One of her naysayers, Battalion Chief Scott Pink, gave Ezell a hug before pinning her as an engineer. And he noted that she’s also an EMT.

Mayor Lynn Ragsdale told Ezell, “We here don’t believe in tokenism. You are where you are at because you deserve it.”

Also pinned during the City Council meeting was the department’s newest firefighter, Scott Elliot.