Fire Dept. names first female division chief

The emergency health services course she threw onto her schedule her freshman year of college turned out to be more than just an "easy A" for Division Chief Michele DeLalla of the county Fire Department.

On Jan. 8, Chief DeLalla, 42, of Edgewater, became the first woman appointed as division chief for Anne Arundel, said Division Chief Michael Cox, a county Fire Department spokesman.

Chief DeLalla, who has been moving up in the ranks for 19 years, applied for the position in October once she met the requirements. To be considered, a firefighter must have 12...