She’s on Fire! Meet Belle of Steel #23 Sherrie C. Lydick
Sherrie C. Lydick (formerly Wilson), Retired Firefighter-Paramedic
Belle of Steel # 23
July 2, 2026
When Sherrie was a little girl, she watched the TV show Emergency. The program centered around heroic first responders of the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Squad 51 and the medical professionals at Rampart General Hospital. That show featured a handsome doctor and lovely ER nurse. But its main two stars were firefighters. John Gage was a paramedic played by Randolph Mantooth. John was the quick-thinking, single rescuer who often functioned as adventurous half of the duo team. Roy DeSoto, the other paramedic was portrayed by Kevin Tighe. His character was the steady, family-oriented partner.
One night while watching, Sherrie turned around and told her mother, “I want to do that. I wanna be a paramedic. Just like them.” Her mother, not surprised, encouraged her daughter’s dream. “You can do anything, Sherrie. As long as it is honorable to God.” When Sherrie graduated from high school, she went to visit a fire station. The first male firefighter she met just laughed when she explained what she wanted to do. The others, also men, just laughed at their card table in the station. But Sherrie didn’t cry. In the meantime, she got a part time job working on an ambulance.
According to Sherrie, back then the credentials were minimal. While working part-time, she got to respond to a few calls with the Dallas Fire Rescue. While riding, she explained that she wanted to become a paramedic. Those that listened, laughed, telling her “You have to be a firefighter first.” She knew they didn’t believe any woman could pass that first hurdle.
But Sherrie knew she had an ace in her pocket, in high school she was a Duncanville Pantherettes, which played basketball. That team was one of the most winning women’s basketball teams in America. As a trained athlete, she thought, the physical part of the was going to be a walk in the park. After being told “no, you can’t” the very next day, Sherrie applied to the Dallas Fire Rescue Department. Shortly thereafter, Sherrie became the first woman to pass the same physical agility test as the men. The more than 100 year old department had over 60 women take the test and fail, but not Sherrie. She easily passed and broke the barrier for women! Sherrie became the catalyst.
Sherrie learned CPR and got her certification in Basic Life Support. Then she became certified in Advanced Life Support. She completed training and sat her exams to become an EMT-Basic. At that point, she was able to do ride-alongs for clinicals and learn from experienced EMTs. But she also watched the paramedics. A paramedic is someone who not only completes EMT-Basic, but studies further, gaining more advanced clinical skills. That was what Sherri wanted. She worked and worked. In 1978, she completed her EMT-Basic. Sherrie just kept going, wanting more. She did her time as an EMT but then attended the University of Texas, Health Science Center at Dallas, successfully sat her exams, and obtained her certification as a paramedic in 1979.
Thirty-five years later, at her retirement party, that same firefighter having read the news stories about Sherrie came to the party. Sherrie was happy to see him. He greeted her with a hug. Sherrie simply said, “Good to see you.” But she thought “I told ya so.” She knew she could do it. She believed. They all agreed, she had done an exceptional job. What a career, and yet she knew she wasn’t done yet. Sherrie worked for the Dallas Fire Department from 1977 to 2011. Sherrie completed her fire-rescue career with the department and walked away with the same pension as the men.
Sherrie loved to each BLS and ACLS. So much so that in 1980, she started teaching classes by forming a small company, Emergency Management Resources (EMR). Now, that company is huge! They have an office on LBJ freeway in Dallas. Once her business was busy, Sherrie went full time with EMR. But she still stays in touch with her fellow firefighters.
Currently EMR has grown to a network of over 1500 Safety and Health instructors in over 32 states. They have functioned as an American Heart Training Center since 2002. Their courses include Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Instructor Training in all 3 disciplines. Also, they teach Advanced Stroke Life Support and an Emergency First Responder Program.
One the safety side, she developed curriculum for the implementation of the Emergency First Responder Program authorized as OSHA Outreach – Constructions and General Safety. From 2013 to 2017, Sherrie also worked for the Texas A and M University, OSHA Training Center Texas Engineering Extension Service. They also teach a specialized course on Confined Space, Trech, and Excavation, as well as Fall Protection and Prevention. Since 2016, Sherrie has served as adjunct faculty for the Oklahoma State University, OSHA Training Center at various Oklahoma locations. She has lead leadership courses for businesses across the country.
In addition, from 1991, Sherrie has served as the Emergency Services editor for the Industrial Fire World Magazine. She served on the Technical Advisory Board for Emergency Services Magazine from 1991 to 2001. While in that role, she fought for full licensure for paramedics in the state of Texas. She states, “It was a battle she easily won.” From 1994 to 1996, she served on the Editorial Board for Texas EMS Magazine. Also, she has served as a publications reviewer for EMT and Paramedic submissions for Mosby Lifeline.
Wowsa. The list goes on and on. Sherrie holds multiple certifications, too many to list. One of the main ones of which she is proud, is as a Master Firefighter. The other, as a Master Practitioner in neuro-linguistics (NLP). Sherrie believes she reached the pinnacle of what she considered success. She is considered to be a master trainer across the country in the world of safety, prevention, and rescue. The wall in her office is full of awards and recognitions. She truly took the beginnings of an unlikely career and ran with it.
Sherrie C. Lydick (formerly Wilson) Dallas’ First Female Firefighter-Paramedic
One of Sherrie’s most significant memories on the job was her first major fire. She wrote about the story in her book, Faith on Fire published in 2017. The three alarm came over the radio and alarms went off in the station. “Ya ready?” her male partner said. “Yep. Sure,” Sherrie answered. Inside, she was full of anxiety, but also a bit of a thrill. “It’s gonna be a bad one,
said her partner. They boarded the large rig at 3:00 AM in the morning and headed to a large fire burning in South Dallas. While they were crossing a bridge, Sherrie could see the smoke and flames in the distance. As they approached, the heat warmed her face.
Before, 1992, firefighters could stand on the tail board as they road along. As soon as the rig stopped, Sherrie grabbed her hose, donned her face shield and headed for the flames. She felt an arm tug her back. “Oh, no you don’t,” her partner urged. “You stick with me.” Sherrie felt tears well up in her eyes. This was all she had trained for. She felt ready. But she acquiesced. Within fifteen minutes the three responding engines had the fire out. “I know you are disappointed, but give it time. Learn and be safe,” he guided. Sherrie did just that. She did help put out that fire.
Back at the station, there was time to reflect. Lone minute, Sherrie was putting out the fire, then in a blink they were back at the station with a hot cp of coffee with her partner, explaining how they did it. The energy flowed as they debriefed.
Watching the expertise and learning, Sherrie was like a sponge. She saw their actions and how they worked as a team to hold the massive, powerful hoses. Seeing the big flames, the heroism in action, she was supercharged. For the next time, her emotions were bigger than life. The adrenalin was intoxicating. Sherrie believes she learned more than firefighting that night, she learned about team dynamics, the science of fire movement, and how important it was that she did have that ace of athleticism in her pocket. One needed it, to survive. But the most important lesson she learned that night, was having your faith in God, herself, her training, and keeping that winning attitude of Faith on Fire!
Sherrie took on that faith by fire attitude. Nothing would stop her now. She caught it. The fire ignited something within Sherrie and was lifechanging. She told herself, “No matter what, I can do it. I really can.” Sherie did exactly that. Sherrie started to fit in with the boys at the station. She worked hard, but as a team member. She built up trust with her colleagues. Slowly, but surely, they began to see her as one of them. It was gratifying.
Sherrie in front of a poster of her book cover, Faith on Fire
“When your belief gets down in your heart and soul, nothing can stop you, Sherrie relates. That moment of finally winning and succeeding at a life-long goal in the face of many obstacles is life changing, for sure. But Sherrie worked hard, showed up, delivered and built trust with her colleagues. She could not only do the job, she did it well. Sherrie and her brotherhood of firefighters are left forever changed.
She is thankful for the faith, ingrained into by her mother. Her mother’s mantra? “The first ingredient of a miracle, is an impossible situation.” Think about this mantra for a moment, your impossible situation must be re-framed into a situation possible to manage. It is the set up one needs for the miracle of change to occur.
Despite the odds, Sherrie succeeded. Sherrie became the City of Dallas’ first female paramedic firefighter. Sherrie learned and continued to grow, never forgetting her roots and faith. Her life has included immense highs and lows. She describes those highs and lows as “riding the outer perimeter of the darkness, but always finding a way back to the light. In tough times, Sherrie would just close her eyes and pray. The bell would ring, and with faith on fire, the ride would begin again.
She says, “If I can do it, so can you!” What an amazing Texas woman is Sherrie C. Lydick. Today, the Dallas Fire Rescue Department is filled with women who only needed a role model. Sherrie filled this role and became their beacon. Because of her remarkable accomplishments, AgeView Press is proud to announce her as Belle of Steel # 23. Whew, “Don’t touch, Sherrie is fire that has yet to burn out!”
Military Connections: Sherrie’s husband, Andy Lycick, and stepson Clayton Lydick both attended the U.S. Naval Academy. Both are U.S. Navy veterans. Her son, Johnathan attended West Point Army Academy. So around Sherrie’s house the Army-Navy football game is an event to remember, she says. Her nephew, Josh Whittle and uncle James Bozeman served in the U.S. Army. Sherrie strongly believes that those that serve our country deserved the highest honor and respect.