RICHMOND, Va. — Richmond Fire Department honored the trailblazing firefighters who integrated the department 75 years ago during a ceremony at the Main Street Station.
July 1, 1950 marked a historic moment in Virginia's history when the first Black firefighters were hired to serve at Engine Company Number Nine.
Among those honored was Harvey Hicks, who became the city's first Black fire captain 11 years after joining the department. Hicks lost his life on June 16, 1963 during a rescue attempt.
It was three weeks after Hicks' death that the fire department became fully integrated.
Former Division Chief at Richmond Fire John Tunstall spoke about what his message would be to Harvey and the other men who helped make his career possible.
"They're my hero," Tunstall said. "And I can truly say that... because if it wasn't for them, I would not have been where I'm at."
The names of these pioneering firefighters are engraved on a plaque at the site of the former Engine Company Number Nine, ensuring that their legacy lives on.
CBS 6 is committed to sharing community voices on this important topic. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom.
📲: CONNECT WITH US
Blue Sky | Facebook | Instagram | X | Threads | TikTok | YouTube
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. To learn more about how we use AI in our newsroom, click here.
