Not looking for limelight? Seattle fire official went straight to media with concerns

If you have problems with your supervisor, KIRO Radio’s Jason Rantz says the general rule of thumb is to confront the issue internally, not to air grievances in public.

But, apparently that’s not how it works at the Seattle Fire Department.

Seattle Fire Department Battalion Chief Tamalyn Nigretto told Rantz that she never discussed her concerns over sexism with fire department officials prior to discussing the matter with The Seattle Times.

“I have not spoken with anybody within the fire department,” she said. “That’s not how the structure works.”

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The Times published an article Sunday where Nigretto claimed she’s been the victim of sexism, most notably because she was snubbed by officials following the deadly Ride the Ducks crash in September and Greenwood explosion last month. Nigretto was incident commander during both incidents but was not asked to speak to the media.

“I thought that was an incredible opportunity for the department to embrace and highlight the work that their women chiefs were doing, and women in particular in the fire service,” Nigretto told Rantz.

“There was a … recruiting opportunity handed to them with this tragedy and they did not embrace it,” she added. “I’m not trying to say in the least to be an opportunist, but here it is, let’s take advantage of it and they didn’t.”

Nigretto said her wife, Lise Ellner, contacted the Times about the perceived slights. Ellner also reportedly wrote a letter to Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, Mayor Ed Murray and Gov. Jay Inslee criticizing the department for failing to note Nigretto’s accomplishments during the catastrophes. However, Nigretto told Rantz that she has still never personally spoken to Scroggins about her concerns and that she only spoke to human resources to let the department know about her interview with the Seattle Times.

“I spoke to our director of HR, Helen Fitzpatrick, and told her I was being interviewed by The Seattle Times,” she said. “And it was a cautionary note from her side, wishing that (I) wouldn’t be doing that.”

When Rantz pressed on the subject further, Nigretto added, “I did go to the HR director and did express my concern. I actually had a conversation with her telling her why I was doing what I was doing.”

Nigretto added that she spoke to the fire chief after she was denied a promotion.

Scroggins was quoted in the Times as saying there was no deliberate attempt to ignore Nigretto or her contributions.

“None of this was intended, and I feel bad Chief Nigretto feels that way,” Scoggins told the Times. “Chief Nigretto did a great job (at Greenwood). Everyone did a great job, but I didn’t reach out to anyone individually.”

Rantz, who has voiced skepticism over the sexism claims, pointed to Nigretto’s comment on the tragedy as a “recruiting opportunity” as an example of why Nigretto might have been bypassed for talking to the media.

Nigretto acknowledged that she is inherently shy and an introvert, and that she doesn’t seek the limelight, but that the issue goes beyond that.

“Twenty-nine years in the fire service, 12 years of trying to (get promoted), numerous times of not getting positions or committee assignments that I’ve applied for,” she said. “… Make no mistake, this is about women not being treated equally in the Seattle Fire Department, not me specifically.”