Westchester County legislator becomes firefighter in Thornwood

Westchester County Legislator Margaret Cunzio is now a full-fledged firefighter with the Thornwood Fire Department after more than 100 hours of training.

News 12 Staff

Oct 15, 2021, 9:55 PM

Updated 1,163 days ago

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A Westchester County legislator can now add firefighter to her resume.
Westchester County Legislator Margaret Cunzio is now a full-fledged firefighter with the Thornwood Fire Department after more than 100 hours of training.
"I feel a sense of pride, but I do feel a huge sense of responsibility," she says. "Because now with this title of interior firefighter, you have that additional responsibility when there is a fire to go inside these buildings to try and rescue people and save property."
Cunzio completed the grueling course that started with over 20 aspiring firefighters but ended with about half - all while juggling family life and her job as county legislator.
She says it's a dream she's had for more than 40 years since she got a chance to ride on the back of a firetruck in Bedford Village when she was just 5 years old.
She is now one of four female firefighters in the Thornwood Fire Department.
She says she hopes her story of perseverance and determination will inspire others to go after her own dreams, despite the challenges.
"It doesn't matter whether you're male, female, your age, what you're doing in life, if this is something you want to do and you want to follow your dream go for it and do it," she says.
In addition to being a county lawmaker and firefighter, Cunzio is also a personal fitness trainer.