Female Firefighter Accepts Award 'For All the Little Girls Out There'

Buffalo Grove Fire Department Battalion Chief Wendy Durkin was recognized Tuesday for her 35 years in the fire service by Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. Durkin was among 15 fire service leaders saluted as part of Topinka’s office’s celebration of Women’s History Month.

Durkin began her career at age 15 as a cadet in Mundelein. At age 18 she became a member of the Long Grove Fire Protection District and in 1988 Durkin was hired full time at the Buffalo Grove Fire Department. She started as a firefighter-paramedic and has risen through the ranks, first as a lieutenant and then in 2011 to her current rank of battalion chief, where she is assigned as the emergency medical services officer.

“This award is for all the little girls out there to show to them that is possible to be a firefighter if they want to," Durkin said.

Durkin was also the 2009 recipient of Buffalo Grove's Firefighter of the Year award.