For the first time in its nearly 50-year history, the Marshall volunteer fire department has elected all female officers.

The department's president, vice president, treasurer and secretary -- which make up the executive board -- are women. With the exception of the treasurer, all of them are also firefighters.

In addition, one of the two members of the department's board of directors is a woman, as is one of the department's lieutenants.

"This is a historical event for us. It is the first time in our history and, as near as we can tell, the first time around here at all that this has happened," said Bill Engelman, fire department spokesman.

The women were elected Dec. 13 and will take office this month.

A couple of them, including Pauline Engleman, Mr. Engelman's wife, have a long history with the department, while others are newer members.

Mrs. Engelman, vice president, was the second female firefighter in the department when she joined in 1978. The first didn't complete all of her course work, Mrs. Engelman said.

She said she became a firefighter because she was newly married and wanted to spend more time with her husband.

"Bill is a police officer, and he had Mondays and Tuesdays off back then. He told me on Tuesdays he volunteered at the fire department, so I went with him. The chief told me I couldn't just hang around, so he sent me to fire training school," she said.

Mrs. Engelman has been with the department ever since. She previously served as secretary and on the board of directors. "I've been there like, forever," she joked, declining to give her age.

The new president, Ann Kinzler, 41, has been with the department for more than 10 years. "My brother was a firefighter, and I became the scene photographer. I was bit by the bug and became a firefighter," she said. Mrs. Kinzler is also married to a firefighter, Bill Kinzler.

She is excited about the all-female administrative side of the department. One of her goals is to recruit more firefighters and more volunteers.

"We want people to know that they can come on board to do administrative things and fire prevention tasks. We have nonrelated firefighting activities. We especially need someone to assist us with grants," she said. As a marketer for Fisher Safety, a company that sells safety products, Mrs. Kinzler works with military and municipal firefighters in her professional life.

Jennie DeMacio, 25, is secretary and a firefighter. She has been with the department for three years.

"I'll basically do the minutes, paperwork -- you know, secretarial work," she said. "I want to do whatever is most beneficial to the company."

Bernadette Schwartz is treasurer and the only officer who is not a firefighter. "I wanted to give back to the community, so when I saw an ad for a volunteer bookkeeper, I decided to help out," she said. That was in 2001.

Mrs. Engelman recalled when Mrs. Schwartz brought in her resume. "She is a CPA, and I told her she was way over qualified for our job. She is such an asset to us," Mrs. Engelman said.

"I see what the men and women who are firefighters go through, the training and then the fires, the accidents. I admire them so much. This is the least I can do," said Mrs. Schwartz, who declined to give her age.

In addition to the officers, one of the two board directors is a woman. Eve Studebaker, 27, has been a firefighter for two years. "My husband, Justin, is a firefighter. I'd see him running out on calls and decided to help out," she said.

Mrs. Studebaker is excited about helping steer the future of the department. "I want to participate in the decisions, not just stand by and not do anything."

The department's line officers consist of the fire chief, assistant fire chief, two captains and two lieutenants. Currently, April Ashbaugh, 25, is the only female line officer, serving as a lieutenant.

"I like being in the firefighting end of things," she said. As it is for many of the other women, participation in the department is a family affair. Mrs. Ashbaugh's husband, Mike, is a firefighter, and her father-in-law, John, serves on the board of directors with Mrs. Studebaker.

The mother of a 6-month-old daughter, Jordan, Mrs. Ashbaugh wants to continue that tradition.

"I hope she is a firefighter someday, too," she said.