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Toledo firefighter passes torch to daughter

Kevin Gordon retired from the TFRD after 25 years of service, his daughter Kendra Borum just took her oath.

TOLEDO, Ohio — Kendra Borum knew she wanted to be a firefighter just like her dad - ever since she was 5-years-old.

"He took me on a take-your-daughter workday and from that moment I was sold," said Borum. "I was in the tower with them. I'm watching them run up and down and they had all their gear on, their high fiving me as they're passing me, and from that moment, that was it."

Kevin Gordon retired from the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department after serving more than 25 years.

"She grew up in the fire station, the fire house. The fire life is all she knows," said Gordon.  "She fell in love with the department. She fell in love with the fire service and she's been wanting to do this since she was a little girl."

Last week Kendra's dream came true as she took her oath to become a Toledo Firefighter.

"There are no words to describe how proud I was of her," said Gordon. "To see my daughter, to set a goal many years ago and to work towards that. I can't express how proud I am of my daughter. There are no words to describe that."

Now Kendra brings her kids to the fire house.

"I have big shoes to fill," said Borum. "My dad is a great man and knowing what he did for the department and this city and making things better for everybody I know I have big shoes to fill, and I know I'm ready for it."

They are shoes that might make this family go from two generations of firefighters to three as Borum's 7-year-old daughter says she wants to be a firefighter too. 

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