TAMPA, Fla. — Mechy Fernandez Wright recently marked a milestone, celebrating 45 years since being hired as the first female firefighter in the city of Tampa.

Tampa City Council marked the historic day of the hiring by honoring Fernandez Wright with a commendation.

The retired firefighter spoke about her journey at Fire Station One where it all started.

"Everything’s changed, I haven’t been in this building in 25 years,” said Fernandez Wright who sparked change, too.

When hired in 1978, she became the first female firefighter in the City of Tampa's history.

"That was big, it was scary challenging and I am just so happy that I was able to survive because it was really tough," said Fernandez Wright. "It was really tough and I knew it was going to be that way, I mean I came into a fraternity of brothers and here’s a female that’s going to change everything.”

Determined to honor the commitment to herself and her community, she says she came to the United States as a Cuban refugee and says it inspired her to push forward.

"I am going to stay strong and I am going to work at this job and I’m not going to let anybody push me out and people tried, a lot of people did and I just kept battling back,” said Fernandez Wright.

She says the biggest battle was being accepted but that didn't stop her.

She served 20 years, working as a firefighter, paramedic, fire investigator and fire inspector. Fernandez Wright says she is proud of starting public education programs, an arson task force and a camp for burn survivors.

"I never felt like a trailblazer, that was just not my intention at all when I came on the job it was more because I love a challenge,” said Fernandez Wright.

A challenge accepted from day one and inspiration 45 years later.

"So, my legacy I would think is just that I want not just women but people that sometimes feel like they may not be right for certain job or adequate for certain position, that you can do it,” said Fernandez Wright.

She did it, giving others the confidence to do it, too.

Tampa is now led by its first-ever female fire chief, Barbara Tripp.

Ironically, Tripp was sworn in 43 years to the day after Fernandez Wright was hired. The City of Tampa now has 54 sworn female firefighters.