Buffalo Fire Department

Breaking Barriers.

Marlena Edwards makes history as Buffalo Fire Department's first black female captain.

In a profession where black women have historically been underrepresented, Captain Marlena Edwards has broken another barrier in Buffalo, becoming the first black woman to rise to the rank of captain in the Buffalo Fire Department.

Her promotion is more than a personal achievement.

It is a powerful moment of representation for Buffalo's black community and another reminder to young black girls that there are no positions of leadership beyond their reach.

And then I want to kind of get into the history of the boat because it's pretty fascinating.

Well, first off, I retired from the Buffalo Fire Department in 2019.

Did 20 years on the job.

And I had a business of my own as well.

So I'm having fun with it.

That's awesome.

Out of curiosity, what led you to join the Buffalo Fire Department back in the day?

Well, it just, you know, they were given a test and I had a bunch of brother-in-laws.

It is Marlena Edwards.

She is the first African American woman to reach captain rank in the Buffalo Fire Department.

Yo, nice.

Shout out to the Buffalo Fire Department.

Always like a good fire department story.

I mean, I don't have a whole lot of story 'cause she's an individual person that's just, like, a firefighter.

That's all right.

We'll make 'em a celebrity.

Honorees include Dion Dawkins, Dr. Adem Tuge, Franklin Muhammad Pratcher, Venizela Joy Williams, and Joanne DeMott Motley.

A historic promotion on the Buffalo Fire Department.

It was great pride that we announced the historic promotion of Ms. Marlena Edwards to the rank of captain, making her the first African-American woman to hold that rank in the history of the Buffalo Fire Department.

Captain Edwards joined the department in 2016.

Early in her career, she was stationed at Engine 3 on Broadway, one of the busiest firehouses in the city.

In 2023, she was promoted to lieutenant, becoming the department's second black female officer.

Now she has reached another milestone in a demanding male-dominated profession.

As a retired member of the Buffalo Fire Department, we fully appreciate how historic this is.