Golden Valley Names First Female Fire Chief
The city of Golden Valley has named Bethany Brunsell as its new fire chief.
She comes to the position with 13 years of fire experience.
Brunsell told CCX News she started her career as a middle school music teacher, but eventually fell in love with fire service.
She worked as a was a paid on-call firefighter for many years, then a fire safety educator.
After working for several different departments, she eventually climbed through the ranks to assistant fire chief in Golden Valley in 2019.
Bethany Brunsell was announced as Golden Valley’s fire chief on Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m teaching firefighters … still teaching community,” Brunsell said. “And it’s been a crazy, wild journey to get where I am. Never would I have imagined when I became a paid on-call firefighter that I would now be the chief of a wonderful fire department.”
She fills the vacant seat left by former chief John Crelly. He retired in December 2023.
Brunsell is also the first female chief in Golden Valley.
“I’m a strong believer that I was chosen for this position because I am best qualified, not because of my gender,” Brunsell said. “But, at the same time, I think it’s important to have representation out there that women can be firefighters. And women can rise to leadership levels in the fire service, too.”
Brunsell says some of her goals as chief are more community collaboration, and a focus on updating fire stations.
