The City of Paterson made history on Tuesday by introducing its first Black deputy fire chief.

Mike Hall was bestowed the honor of taking the position, which comes shortly after Alejandro Alicea was promoted to become the city's first Hispanic fire chief.

“When they think that because it's Paterson, they have nothing out there for them and they look at you and they see there is something out there for you, that there is something that you can do,” said Hall. “I took pride in that for kids to look at me and people look at me and see me and it means something to them. I was very inspired by that."

Hall has been a Paterson firefighter since 2001.