Notre Dame Fire Department adds first two female firefighters

Shibata (L) Woolverton (R), photo courtesy of the University of Notre Dame

NOTRE DAME, Ind.—The Notre Dame Fire Department has welcomed its first-ever female firefighters, the university said Wednesday.

Christi Shibata and Michelle Woolverton are the 140-year-old department’s first full-time female firefighters.

Shibata, 37, joined the department in July and previously worked as a physical therapist assistant and personal trainer in Michigan. Her sister is Notre Dame Police Chief Keri Kei Shibata.

Woolverton, 42, joined the team in August and is a native of South Bend.

Both Shibata and Woolverton graduated from the Clay Fire Academy and both are certified emergency medical technicians.

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