GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - One of the leading faces in the fight against the southern California wildfires is originally from Green Bay. Los Angeles' fire chief Kristin Crowley is originally from Titletown. Local 5 News spoke to several people who knew her in high school. Both of them said that they believe Crowley has what it takes to lead her department through this challenging time. Crowley graduated from St. Joseph Academy in Green Bay (now Notre Dame Academy) in 1989 and was a standout athlete in multiple sports. Her high school coaches said they saw early signs that she was going to be a special leader. "She wasn't shy she didn't back off from leadership and empowering others," said Liz Kleba who was Crowley's basketball coach. "She wasn't like the show is all about me, it's all about us." Locker Room: Packers end year in skid but remain hopeful for next season Local 5 News met Kleba at the Notre Dame Academy alumni gym on Tuesday afternoon. She flipped through an old yearbook and showed us pictures of Crowley on the basketball, volleyball, and softball teams. Kleba said Crowley was goal-oriented and worked very hard. She said she always knew that Crowley was destined to accomplish great things in her life. "What's going on out there right now (the wildfires), there's no better person to accept that challenge," Kleba said about Crowley. "I'm just proud, just absolutely proud of her." Across two decades, Crowley rose through the ranks of the Los Angeles Fire Department. She became the first female fire chief in the department's history in 2022. She leads a department with more than 3500 employees. To read more about her background, please click here. "She's a competitor, she will not let the fire win," said Beth Kiene another one of Crowley's former teachers and coaches at St. Joseph Academy." She's dedicated she will stick to it until that last ember is out I have no doubt about it." Kiene coached Crowley in softball and together they won a state championship. The trophy is still on display in the school's hallway. She said as soon as she saw Crowley on television leading the fire department's charge against the wildfire she told her current students about Crowley's story to inspire them. What happens if TikTok is banned? Will app and data disappear? "Kristin left a great legacy when I knew her decades ago and that legacy continues today," she said. Kiene said she recently reunited with Crowley at a celebration to honor the softball team that won the state championship. She said Crowley was a very memorable student because of her leadership qualities and great sense of humor. Both Kiene and Kleba said they aren't surprised by the success that Crowley has achieved throughout her life. They say she's the right person to lead the Los Angles fire department through this very challenging time. "Those people in Los Angeles are very lucky to have Kristin as one of the major cogs in solving this problem," Kiene said. "The news will come on, I will hear her voice and I'll run to the television to see what she has to say today," said Kleba. "It's not about her being No. 1, it's about her lifting people up and that's her job."   Crowley attended college at St. Mary's in Indiana where she studied to become a physician. Shortly after graduating, she moved out to Los Angeles where she studied for her MCAT while simultaneously enrolling in paramedic school. She was with the Los Angeles Fire Department for over two decades before earning the chief position. She competed in basketball and soccer during her time at St. Mary's. "I remember her being fiercely loyal, to her friends, fiercely loyal to her team she was quite a competitor," said Kiene. 'The fact that Kristin succeeded isn't shocking, I'm so proud of her of what she's done," said Kleba.