by JONATHAN LEMIRE
Firefighter Aisha Ricca, who was promoted to fire marshal at a ceremony at the Fire Academy on Randalls Island Wednesday, holds her son Maximus
Aisha Ricca became the fourth female fire marshal in the FDNY's history Wednesday - but she had long ago learned the nature of the challenging and prestigious position.
Ricca's husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law have all worked as FDNY marshals, inspiring the mother of two to follow in their footsteps, she said after her promotion.
"I know what the job entails, and I am looking forward to the opportunity," said Ricca, who had previously worked in the FDNY as both an emergency medical technician and a firefighter.
"I loved being a firefighter, but now part of my job is to keep the bad guys off the street," she said Wednesday .
Although viewed by many as a pioneer for women in the overwhelmingly male department, Ricca insisted that she be treated no differently than any of her colleagues.
She's not a role model, she said, adding, "I'm just doing my job."
Ricca was one of 123 firefighters who became marshals during a promotion ceremony overseen by Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta at the FDNY Academy on Randalls Island.
"You can bet that there won't be any unattended candles in their house," Scoppetta joked.
"We always say the FDNY is a family, and I mean that literally in this case."
Eighteen other FDNY officers received promotions, including newly minted Deputy Assistant Chief John Sudnik, who will help oversee the department's operations in Queens, and Lt. Joseph Pansini, whose brother, Paul, was killed during the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
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