Brenna Lussier Named Firefighter of the Year for Exemplary Service

In a profession dominated by men, Brenna Lussier stands tall—not just for her ability to carry heavy ladders but also for her remarkable dedication and service, which earned her the prestigious Firefighter of the Year award this year.

“It was really cool to get this award [from my peers],” Lussier said, reflecting on her award. “I was really surprised.”

Chosen by her peers, Lussier’s recognition comes from consistently going above and beyond in her duties as a firefighter and paramedic and being a beacon of strength and inspiration within the department and the community she serves.

“This award is special in that the winner is voted on by their peers in the department. No one was surprised when Brenna was selected,” said Tim Dunkley, Battalion Chief, American Fork Fire. “She is the type of firefighter paramedic that I want showing to my house to take care of my loved ones. Not only is she excellent at what she does outside of the station, but she is a humble leader and mentor to our new personnel in the station. She has and will continue to do great things for American Fork Fire Rescue and this community.”

Lussier grew up in a first responder family and spent the last four years with the American Fork Fire Department.  She initially faced some challenges on the job, including overcoming her fear of heights and building the physical strength required for the demanding role. Her determination and hard work have paid off, not only in overcoming these challenges but also in setting a new standard for excellence within her unit.

Her commitment to her role was recently highlighted in an emergency situation when she helped a woman deliver a baby in her car. This act of quick thinking and calm under pressure is just one example of Lussier’s extraordinary dedication to her work every day.

 “It was cool to help out and get them where they needed to go,” Lussier said. “That was something we don’t get to do very often, we tend to see more of the sadder side of the job.”

Aside from her duties at the fire department, Lussier enjoys teaching the newbies at AF. New paramedics help Lussier keep her skills sharp, and she helps them process what they learned in school in a clinical setting into real-life practice. Talking to people is a big area of focus in her mentoring.

As Firefighter of the Year, Lussier not only represents the pinnacle of professional achievement in her field but also underscores the vital role of determination, teamwork, and selfless service in the face of adversity. She advises other women who are interested in becoming firefighters to start young, get involved in the high school intern programs, get their EMT first, keep their down, and keep working.

“The trend is slowly changing in the fire service, where you are seeing more women,” Lussier added. It is still a male-dominated field, so just know you are going to have to work a little harder. There are still departments out there that believe women will have a harder time doing the job, but that is part of the fun of it—proving them wrong.”