The first mother/daughter career firefighter combination in Virginia history came into being Friday, Aug. 1, when Erin J. Gardner received her fire helmet from her mother Lt. Pamela Dailey during the 125th Recruit School Firefighter Graduation, Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department, ceremony in the County Government Center Auditorium in Fairfax. Gardner was one of 33 firefighter recruits to graduate from the 22-week course that night. Lt. Dailey is assigned to the Fair Oaks Fire and Rescue Station number 21. Her daughter is assigned to the Tysons Corner Fire and Rescue Center number 29.
After extensive research, it was found that only two other mother/daughter firefighter combinations exist. One in Knoxville, Tenn and the other in Wales, United Kingdom, according to Daniel Schmidt, director, Public Information, FCF&R Department.