Our People

A 17-year OCFA veteran, Linda Brown took an untraditional path to the fire service—teaching English in Japan, working as a flight attendant during 9/11, and pursuing other careers before joining her brother, Dan, as an OCFA firefighter.

“I wanted a profession where I contributed to something larger than myself.”

The transition wasn’t easy.

“One week, I was in an office wearing a business suit and heels, and the next I was in an OCFA Academy wearing turnouts and boots. I took it hour by hour, giving everything I had. My physical fitness was my advantage—I came in strong and ready.”

Promoting to paramedic in 2014 and Engineer in 2018, Linda says “helping the public” is her favorite part of the job. Her most impactful moment came when a newborn was placed in her arms through the Safe Surrender Program. Today, that child—Noah—calls her his aunt and godmother.

Married to her longtime supporter, Alvin, a Battalion Chief in Arizona, Linda reflects on the importance of representation in the fire service.

“In my first year, I was sitting backwards on a Sutphen truck at a stoplight when a father yelled, ‘You’re inspiring my daughter!’ due to the hard work of women before me and my generation, if you want to be a firefighter and work to be a strong, competent member of the crew, you can be accepted.”

Her advice to aspiring female firefighters:

“Be accountable to yourself and your crew. The gear, the hose, and the ladders don’t discriminate. You’re part of a team—be prepared to do your part.”