Jamie Xayavong, a 13-year veteran of the Pleasant Hill Fire Department, has been named that city’s fire chief.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the appointment. Xayavong, who begins her new post on July 1, will be paid $92,395 annually. She is the eastern Polk County suburb’s first full-time female fire chief.

Only 3% of the nation’s 350,000 firefighters are women, according to Women in Fire, a Minnesota organization that promotes the inclusion of women in the profession. In addition, about 150 of nearly 30,000 U.S. fire departments have a female chiefs.

Pleasant Hill Mayor Sara Kurovski, in a prepared statement, said she has worked with Xayavong on several things in the past year, including flooding last summer and the renovation of the fire station.

“I have experienced firsthand how she exemplifies our city’s and the fire department’s values through these interactions,” Kurovski said in the statement. “I am thrilled to have a passionate public servant filling the role of our next fire chief.” 

Xayavong has been a lieutenant and captain at the fire department and in the past year was interim acting fire chief while the city conducted a national search to fill the role. 

In the past year, she has led the transition from fire and paramedic staff serving 12-hour shifts to 24-hour shifts, and began the design process for extensive building renovations.