The Fremont Fire Department has made history after appointing its first woman and woman of color as fire chief.

Zoraida Diaz, who's Afro-Latina, started the position last month after serving nearly two decades in the Oakland Fire Department. 

"For me, I’ve always been driven," Diaz told KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco. 

"So, no one is going to stop me from being successful, is how I looked at it. Really, I was able to get the respect because I had the credibility of working every position but also who I was when I started in the academy, is who I’ve always been," Diaz said.   

Diaz served as deputy chief for two years in Fremont before becoming fire chief.

Diaz says she also plans to hire three division chiefs and a fire marshall in the next 18 months.