Syracuse Fire Promotes First Black Female Captain

Tamica Barnett's promotion to captain makes her the first Black woman to hold the rank in the Syracuse Fire Department's history.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in People

Syracuse Fire Promotes First Black Female Captain

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The Syracuse Fire Department promoted Tamica Barnett to captain on October 25, making her the first Black female captain in the department's history. Barnett is 42 years old and previously became the city's first Black female fire lieutenant in 2021.

Why it matters

The promotion marks a milestone in representation within Syracuse's fire service, a field where leadership ranks have historically been held by few women. It also places Barnett in a position to oversee lieutenants at a busy city station.

Barnett's 2026 salary is $115,506, and the captain rank sits two steps below deputy chief in the department's chain of command. The department's total number of female or Black officers at comparable ranks was not provided.

The players

Tamica Barnett

Tamica Barnett is a Syracuse firefighter who grew up on the city's East Side and has risen through the ranks since joining the department in 2011.

Syracuse Fire Department

The Syracuse Fire Department is the municipal fire service responsible for emergency response and fire prevention across the city of Syracuse, New York.

The details

Barnett joined the Syracuse Fire Department in 2011 and was assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau in 2022 after serving as lieutenant. As captain, she will oversee all lieutenants at Engine Company 1 at 900 S. State St., where she previously led four other lieutenants.

2011: Barnett joins the Syracuse Fire Department.
2020: Barnett becomes president of the city Board of Education.
2021: Barnett becomes the city's first Black female fire lieutenant.
2022: Barnett is assigned to the Fire Prevention Bureau.
October 25, 2026: Barnett is promoted to captain.

Market Landscape

Barnett's 2021 appointment as the city's first Black female fire lieutenant set the precedent for this step. Her promotion to captain extends that trajectory within the Syracuse Fire Department's command structure.

Residents of Syracuse's East Side and those served by Engine Company 1 at 900 S. State St. will see Barnett overseeing lieutenants at that station. The promotion affects day-to-day command at the firehouse rather than service delivery rules.

The takeaway

Barnett's rise from lieutenant to captain shows how representation in public safety leadership can build step by step over time. Residents may watch how command structures evolve at local firehouses as more officers advance.