Sea Coast Online
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Only one percent of New Hampshire’s 8,000-plus full-time firefighters are women, according to Deb Pendergast, director of New Hampshire Fire Standards and Training.
There are two reasons, she said: “bullying” and a difficult physical entrance exam. “There’s still bullying going on,” Pendergast said. “Unfortunately, so many departments are not accepting of women. I hear so many stories.”
Then there’s the “stringent” physical agility test that Pendergast said is hard for everyone to pass. The test is given once a year and an average of 10 women take it, then one to three of those women pass it, said Pendergast. She said the most recent annual test was given a few weeks ago and there was a 40 percent failure rate for men and women.
Full story: Female firefighters wanted