MCARTHUR — Near Vinton County’s border with Meigs County, there is a village where history may have been made.
Betty Sowers was recently named chief of the Wilkesville Volunteer Fire Department, most likely Vinton County’s first female fire chief. Sowers does not consider herself a trailblazer but rather as a firefighter first and foremost.
“As for being a ‘trailblazer,’” she said. “I am not sure, I do not like attention and recognition makes me feel out of place at times. We do what we do to help others on some of their worst days. I am proud to be a one-step on the path to breaking down barriers and the glass ceiling for other women. We are all firefighters, we all have a place regardless of gender, age, and experience. I think that is key, just realizing that we are a team working towards a bigger goal in a volunteer field that is slowly shrinking year after year.”
Sowers, 27, has deep roots in Wilkesville and Vinton County. As the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall from the tree — her father Darrel is a firefighter — so firefighting and the call to serve runs deep in this family.
“My father was a member of Salem Center Volunteer Fire Department as well as Wilkesville Volunteer Fire Department growing up,” she said. “I have spent the majority of my life around the fire department either with my dad or our annual Fish Fry which is the last Saturday of July every year.”
Sowers continued, “My dad introduced me to the fire service and I was always able to be around due to his involvement and grew up knowing all the past and current members. My mom, Linda, was always and is still a huge supporter of me and always has encouraged me to be the best I can be. I love my community and the people here and that is why I have never wanted to be anywhere else.”
This may be the first father-daughter firefighter duo in the county, certainly for WVFD, a relationship that comes with challenges and rewards.
“It is different being able to work alongside my dad, the dynamics are different when it’s not just father and daughter anymore and there are ranks involved,” Sowers said. “But, we get along and make it work, he has been involved and has done this for a long time. I will always respect the knowledge of those who came before me and will gladly accept any knowledge that other are willing to share.”
Sowers graduated from Vinton County High School in 2015 and went on to complete a Bachelor’s of Arts from Ohio University in 2020. She completed her 36-Hour Volunteer Firefighter Course at the Wellston Fire Department Training Academy in 2016.
“I have been a volunteer firefighter for 8 years now, prior to that I was the only junior firefighter to successfully complete Wilkesville’s Junior Firefighter Program,” she said.
Sowers said she has a lot of mentors over the years that’ve shared their knowledge of firefighting.
“I was so lucky to have been able to learn from past members and those who are now retired or who have moved on to other things. Any question I asked was always answered,” she said. “I thankfully have a very supportive crew behind me and other local departments nearby that are always willing to help when called or come running when needed. The fire service is a group effort and we all share one goal and that is to serve our community to the best of our abilities.”
Sowers she is called to answer the call to serve others.
“I do this to help people,” she said. “That is the biggest reward, just answering the call when I can and am able. We all face challenges as most volunteers today are working full-time jobs which can make responding difficult.”
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