[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING BATTALION CHIEF EMILY LO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 21, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Battalion Chief Emily Lo of the Davis Fire Department. I have named 
Chief Lo as the California's 4th District Public Safety Hero of the 
Year for Yolo County in honor of her 35 years of extraordinary 
selflessness, dedication and service to others, as she retires from 
firefighting.
  Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Chief Lo immigrated to the United States in 
1981. She earned an Associate of Science degree in Fire Technology from 
American River College and a Bachelor of Science in Fire Service 
Management from California State University, Sacramento. Chief Lo 
currently resides in Davis with her husband, Rob, and is a devoted 
mother to Austin and Lola.
  Chief Lo began her career in 1990 as a firefighter with the Fairfield 
Fire Department before joining the Davis Fire Department in 1991. Over 
the next three decades, she rose through the ranks, earning a promotion 
to Fire Captain in 2002 and then to Battalion Chief in 2022. Her rise 
in leadership was historic--she was the first female firefighter and 
the first Asian American Battalion Chief in the Davis Fire Department's 
history.
  Beyond her work on the front lines of fighting fires, Chief Lo has 
been a dedicated leader and advocate for her profession. She served on 
the Executive Board as Treasurer for Davis Firefighters Local 3494 for 
25 years, making her the longest-serving female firefighter union 
officer in California history. As Co-Chair and a founding member of the 
California Firefighters Joint Apprenticeship Committee's Commission to 
Recruit Women for the Fire Service, she played a pivotal role in 
increasing diversity within the profession. Chief Lo was also an active 
delegate for both the California Professional Firefighters and the 
International Association of Firefighters, where she advocated on 
critical issues such as firefighter cancer risk, labor rights and 
retirement security. Additionally, she served as a delegate to the 2000 
Democratic National Convention and has been a dedicated grassroots 
advocate for numerous local and state candidates.
  Chief Lo's dedication extends beyond the firehouse. She has 
volunteered annually for the Davis Firefighter's ``Fill the Boot'' 
Thanksgiving Basket program, ensuring that Yolo County families have 
meals during the holiday season. She also worked alongside Thriving 
Pink, a nonprofit that supports breast cancer survivors, to help raise 
thousands of dollars through their annual crab feed.
  Chief Lo's career has been defined by resilience, leadership and 
commitment to service. She has thrived in a male-dominated field, 
breaking barriers while earning the respect and admiration of her 
colleagues. Her humor, integrity and loyalty to her profession made her 
an inspiration to future generations of firefighters.
  Mr. Speaker, it is fitting and proper that we honor Battalion Chief 
Emily Lo for her extraordinary service, leadership and dedication to 
the Davis community. We thank her for her lifelong commitment to public 
safety and wish her a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________