Members of the Mapleton Fire Department’s Company 2 are pictured, left to right: Sydney Corbin, Hannah Piper, Amanda Corbin, Christine Clevenger, Tiffany Isenburg, Brenda Coder, Crystal Isenburg, and Sayde Wise.
By SAYDE WISE | Journalism Student, Mount Union Area Senior High School
Mapleton, Pa. — At the Mapleton Fire Department’s open house on October 15, 2025, Hannah Piper presented a showcase on the past and present roles of women in the fire department. According to her research, the first woman firefighter was an enslaved African American woman in New York. At the time, there was an outbreak of sickness, and she was able to help take the place of sick men in the fire service. This marked the beginning of women’s history in the fire department. Piper stated, “In Company 2, women hold the roles of EMTs, fire police, and firsthand firefighters.” The women actively involved in Company 2 include Christine Clevenger, Brenda Coder, Amanda Corbin, Sydney Corbin, Terri Chilcote, Jinny Everhart, Traci Fleck, Tiffany Isenburg, Crystal Isenburg, Barb Kuhns, Leslie Lash, Amy Miles, Hannah Piper, Missy Smith, and Sayde Wise. These women continue to make a difference in their company through their involvement in a variety of events.
Piper emphasized that women are beneficial to the fire service in numerous ways. She elaborated, “They can do exactly what the men do. They can be officers, hold executive positions, and play auxiliary roles.” Even women who are not in the fire service can be educated and contribute to their local fire departments. Piper said she has personally contributed by taking firefighter classes, planning events, helping in parades, and being as involved as possible—most of which occurred before she officially joined the department. She believes families can contribute to the fire departments around them in multiple capacities. She explained, “People in the community can educate themselves by coming out to our open houses and attending different events hosted by the fire department to learn how to protect themselves and help the fire service.”
Piper’s commitment to the fire department took on an even deeper meaning following a difficult time in her life. Her husband, Jayme Piper, unexpectedly passed away in June of 2025. The tragic loss of her husband is what inspired her to join the company. Jayme was the vice president of Company 2 and did everything possible for them. Piper expressed, “He was really big into helping the community. The fire department stepped in and became a second family to me after he passed away.” She felt that Company 2 supported her when she needed it most, which gave her the unintentional push she needed to step out of her comfort zone and join them. “That is what made me want to be more involved,” she said.
Piper’s advice to other women in male-dominated fields is, “Do as much as you can. Remember, there is nothing that can stop you, and you can do everything that the men can do.”
This article was published as part of Ms. Dimoff’s Journalism class at Mount Union Area Senior High School.
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