Yonkers Fire Commissioner Tony Pagano is apologizing for some fiery comments he made in front of new recruits, including the first female firefighter in the department?s history.

While speaking to a class of newly hired firefighters, Pagano admits he used a common term for the male anatomy when talking about the courage it takes to do the job. Some people agree that Pagano's comment was inappropriate because he leads a department of 400 firefighters, which now includes one woman.

After five years of trying to get hired, Lianne Navedo finally joined Yonkers? bravest in September. However, it took a court order to end the 100-year tradition of the Yonkers Fire Department being all male.

Navedo accepted the commissioner's apology and just wants to put the whole matter behind her. Pagano confirms there is a complaint on file with the Yonkers Human Resources Department, which is investigating. The commissioner says he will accept whatever the consequences might be.