Jessica Fleshman, the first female fire chief of the Fairfield Fire Department in California, has been awarded a settlement of more than $1.7 million following a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and harassment. This decision comes after a series of complaints from male colleagues, who claimed she appeared intimidating while wearing sunglasses at work.
Fleshman, who became the first woman to reach the rank of battalion chief in the department, reported that her promotion in 2021 was met with hostility and a barrage of accusations that undermined her authority. She described the atmosphere as one that “interfered with her job” and derailed her career.
In an interview with NBC Bay Area, Fleshman recounted her experience: “I was in my chief’s office two or three times a week having to answer for some allegation brought forth against me.” She estimated that she faced over a hundred accusations, which she argued were not directed at her male counterparts.
The city of Fairfield agreed to the settlement to resolve Fleshman’s lawsuit, filed in 2023, without admitting any wrongdoing. Her complaints ranged from trivial matters, such as wearing sunglasses “too assertively,” to serious allegations of endangering firefighters during training sessions in hot weather. Fleshman stated, “From me wearing sunglasses during training and being intimidating, to severe things like safety concerns… I got people burned.”
Despite the numerous complaints lodged against her, none were substantiated, and Fleshman faced no disciplinary action. Investigations conducted in 2022 and 2024 found no evidence of a hostile work environment or sex discrimination. Fairfield Fire Chief John Sturdee emphasized that the city engaged multiple independent investigators, yet none of Fleshman’s allegations were proven in court.
Civil rights attorney Deborah Kochan, who represented Fleshman, noted that her client’s experience reflects a broader issue faced by women in male-dominated fields. “What happened to Chief Fleshman is what I’ve seen over and over again,” Kochan stated. “She reached that level because she was amazing – and then she had to speak out, and nobody had her back.”
Fleshman expressed frustration with the lack of support from her peers, stating, “Not one person in that agency reached out or tried to help me through it. I was really dead to the organization at that point.”
Women constitute less than 5% of firefighters in the Fairfield area, and nationally, the figure is approximately 9%, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Captain Lauren Andrade, president of Equity on Fire, a nonprofit supporting women in fire services, highlighted the need for accountability in addressing such issues. “You can’t just not address these big issues – it continues to leave the door open for more of the same behavior,” she remarked.
Fleshman, who previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps, joined the Fairfield Fire Department with the hope that her discipline and resilience would help her succeed. Despite her groundbreaking achievement, she found herself continually fighting for recognition and equality. “We need to change the culture of the fire service,” she asserted. “It’s one of the last cultures to change. We women are just as capable as our male counterparts to do the job.”
Under the terms of her settlement, Fleshman will remain on paid administrative leave until her retirement next year. She is currently teaching as an adjunct fire instructor at Solano Community College, a role she believes will help prepare the next generation for a more inclusive future. “This was never how I wanted my career to end,” she reflected in a heartfelt message on her Facebook page. “I love the citizens of Fairfield and always strived to provide the highest level of service they deserved.”
Fleshman acknowledged that while there are many supportive colleagues in the department, it only takes a few to create significant challenges. Her experience serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by women in firefighting and similar professions.
