HONORING BATTALION CHIEF EMILY LO

HONORING BATTALION CHIEF EMILY LO

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 35 (Friday, February 21, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E143] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING BATTALION CHIEF EMILY LO ______ HON. MIKE THOMPSON of california in the house of representatives Friday, February 21, 2025 Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Battalion Chief Emily Lo of the Davis Fire Department. I have named Chief Lo as the California's 4th District Public Safety Hero of the Year for Yolo County in honor of her 35 years of extraordinary selflessness, dedication and service to others, as she retires from firefighting. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Chief Lo immigrated to the United States in 1981. She earned an Associate of Science degree in Fire Technology from American River College and a Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Management from California State University, Sacramento. Chief Lo currently resides in Davis with her husband, Rob, and is a devoted mother to Austin and Lola. Chief Lo began her career in 1990 as a firefighter with the Fairfield Fire Department before joining the Davis Fire Department in 1991. Over the next three decades, she rose through the ranks, earning a promotion to Fire Captain in 2002 and then to Battalion Chief in 2022. Her rise in leadership was historic--she was the first female firefighter and the first Asian American Battalion Chief in the Davis Fire Department's history. Beyond her work on the front lines of fighting fires, Chief Lo has been a dedicated leader and advocate for her profession. She served on the Executive Board as Treasurer for Davis Firefighters Local 3494 for 25 years, making her the longest-serving female firefighter union officer in California history. As Co-Chair and a founding member of the California Firefighters Joint Apprenticeship Committee's Commission to Recruit Women for the Fire Service, she played a pivotal role in increasing diversity within the profession. Chief Lo was also an active delegate for both the California Professional Firefighters and the International Association of Firefighters, where she advocated on critical issues such as firefighter cancer risk, labor rights and retirement security. Additionally, she served as a delegate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention and has been a dedicated grassroots advocate for numerous local and state candidates. Chief Lo's dedication extends beyond the firehouse. She has volunteered annually for the Davis Firefighter's ``Fill the Boot'' Thanksgiving Basket program, ensuring that Yolo County families have meals during the holiday season. She also worked alongside Thriving Pink, a nonprofit that supports breast cancer survivors, to help raise thousands of dollars through their annual crab feed. Chief Lo's career has been defined by resilience, leadership and commitment to service. She has thrived in a male-dominated field, breaking barriers while earning the respect and admiration of her colleagues. Her humor, integrity and loyalty to her profession made her an inspiration to future generations of firefighters. Mr. Speaker, it is fitting and proper that we honor Battalion Chief Emily Lo for her extraordinary service, leadership and dedication to the Davis community. We thank her for her lifelong commitment to public safety and wish her a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement. ____________________