On Thursday, the Quinn Fire Academy was flooded with dozens of young girls for the annual firefighter for a day, and the event is making an impact throughout the city.

Chicago has only had one female fire commissioner in its history, but, in a couple years, there could be more, due to the over 70 girls who stopped by the academy.

“My parents said, ‘no that job is not for you,’ and I said, ‘watch,'” Deborah Sommer said. Thirty four years later, she’s district chief of diversity and inclusion. Sommer said she didn’t have programs like this growing up.

Data show only 9% of Chicago firefighters are women, and less than 2% are Black women.

The very first female firefighter in Chicago wasn’t hired until 1974.

The district chief said the department has come a long way, but still has a lot farther to go.

For more information on how to become a firefighter, visit Chicago.gov.