Davie Fire Rescue recently named seven new battalion chiefs to fill vacancies at the department.
Here's a rundown on the new hires. Six of them will earn an annual salary of $76,102.
Julie Downey, 43, of Davie, grew up in Broward and said she began at 14 as a fire cadet and continued her career with Sunrise Fire Rescue, where she was the first female firefighter-paramedic.
James Ferranti, 53, who lives in Davie, said he will never forget rescuing the young girl who was impaled by a metal rod six years ago as she rode in her family's minivan on Interstate 95. Stephanie Murray survived and later launched a highway cleanup task force.
''I bring that one up because it had a good ending,'' Ferranti said.
Jorge Gonzalez, 39, of Cooper City, said Davie's biggest challenge is highway traffic. Gonzalez graduated from Broward Community College in May 2002 with a degree in emergency medical services. His first job was with the Margate Fire-Rescue Department.
Brian Nolte, 49, of Boynton Beach, started his career as a firefighter with Davie Fire Rescue in 1990 and rose through the ranks. He received his associate's degree in fire science from BCC and is a certified to conduct dive rescues.
He has received training on handling terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
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