Syracuse residents now have a historic new leader in their fire department. On Oct. 25, 2026, Tamika Barnett was promoted to captain, becoming the first Black female to hold that rank in the Syracuse Fire Department. The promotion follows her earlier breakthrough as the city’s first Black female fire lieutenant in 2021, marking a continued push for diversity and representation within the department.
Barnett joined the Syracuse Fire Department in 2011 and has served the community for many years. In addition to her firefighting duties, she has served as President of the Syracuse City School District Board of Education Commissioners since 2024, a role she says underscores her commitment to being a role model for local youth. “It’s amazing feeling. I like to be a role model for our students,” Barnett told reporters. “I think it’s important to show the youth in the community that someone from your neighborhood that you know, that grew up with your parents, can achieve things and it kind of hopefully ignites them to want to do more.”
Born and raised in Syracuse, Barnett graduated from Henninger High School and earned a degree from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of her public service, she runs the non‑profit Fired Up for Youth Inc., which provides workforce‑development programs for teens across central New York, and operates a barbecue catering business called Who Want Smoke BBQ and Catering.
As captain, Barnett will supervise Fire Station 18, located in the Valley section of Syracuse. The station houses two engine trucks and two smaller walk‑around rescue vehicles, positioning it as a critical hub for emergency response in the area. “It’s always good to be the first, but as Chief Monds always mentioned, I don’t want to be the last. So hopefully we get more females that would like to advance their careers and then also come on the surface fire department,” Barnett said, emphasizing her hope that more women will follow her path.
Barnett’s promotion reflects both her personal dedication and the department’s broader effort to cultivate leadership that mirrors the community it serves. Her dual roles in public safety and education aim to inspire the next generation of Syracuse leaders.
What’s next: Captain Barnett will begin overseeing daily operations at Station 18 immediately, while continuing her work on the school board and with Fired Up for Youth Inc. Residents can expect to see her presence at upcoming community events and fire‑safety outreach programs throughout the year.
Sources: cnycentral.com, cnycentral.com, cnycentral.com
