Female firefighters comprise approximately 9% of the firefighting workforce, facing unique challenges and opportunities for the women serving their communities. Hear from firefighters from all ranks, and learn about the insights, standards and policies helping create a more inclusive space for women.
Ruby has been assigned to Minneapolis Fire Station 7 for three months when she finally responds to her first house fire
FEATURES & PROFILES
Pregnancy should not require female firefighters to abandon their careers, pay and benefits in exchange for the safety of their baby
Confronting gender stereotypes to encourage women to see the fire service as a career option
Fire camps teach teenage girls the fire service is a valid career option and can bolster a diverse workforce
If departments want to promote diversity in the fire service, they have to do more to remove the barriers preventing women from becoming firefighters
A commitment to diversity and inclusion must be practiced and reaffirmed constantly in both behavior and underlying culture
IN THE NEWS
At the time of her nomination, Crowley said keeping the department operationally ready would be her top priority
A new lactation policy and a change in shift options were among initiatives proposed to Santa Fe’s Community Health and Safety Task Force to address the FD’s diversity issues
Tracy Blanchette has been promoted to captain after a state board said she was wrongly passed over for the promotion previously
Chief Tina R. Watkins will lead the Petersburg Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services after a number of interim leaders over the years
South Bend FD members have cited a culture of harassment and discrimination, but the St. Joseph County prosecutor said detectives could not find a suspect
South Bend’s matrix plan comes about six months after the department’s 12 female firefighters raised issues
The assessment of LAFD’s workplace culture also found that 56% of female employees who responded cited bullying
“I worked hard and the opportunity was there, I took it every chance I got,” said Seekonk Fire Chief Sandra Lowery
Latosha Clemons, Boynton Beach, Florida’s first Black female firefighter, alleges damage to her personal and professional reputation
At the Women in Fire 2021 International Conference, 129 female firefighters were measured as part of research into creating uniforms made for women
ON THE BETTER EVERY SHIFT PODCAST
The Anne Arundel County fire chief underscores the importance of transparency and trust when stepping into a new leadership role
The San Francisco assistant chief shares tactical tips for dominating the fire so it has no chance of victory
As she steps down from the top spot in Baltimore County, Rund takes on a new, family-focused role with the NFFF
The Fairfax County (Virginia) firefighter-paramedic talks crew bonding, firefighter reproductive health, and banishing ego to create space for vulnerable conversations
The former CAL FIRE chief of fire protection shares stories from her unique path from seasonal firefighter to fire chief and beyond
It’s important to connect with your fellow firefighters, get involved in training, and avoid silos
The battalion chief explains how so much of her decision-making is rooted in the 2008 Salisbury Millworks blaze
The Indianapolis battalion chief highlights the power of company officers to quash negativity
The Raleigh firefighter and peer support advocate explains her perspective on healthy boundaries, therapy and why connection is life-sustaining
The fire service scientist details her newest adventure, the Science Alliance, plus how to make data accessible at the station level