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.
The former U.S. fire administrator underscores the need for the agency to be elevated as the leader of the nation’s fire service
FEATURES & PROFILES
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
To truly embrace diversity, fire service agencies need to implement change from the top down
A robust, multi-faceted recruitment strategy that celebrates diversity is essential to achieving sustainability in the fire service
There were a total of seven women in the SFFD in 1987; now, there are 285 uniformed women in the department
The two-day free event, led by female firefighters, taught girls how to use a fire hose, climb a ladder and how to perform CPR
Research has shown that firefighters and EMTs face special risks of cardiac disease and stroke; here are 10 ways to lessen your risk
The harassment and assaults began when she was 16 and continued for years, with those in charge treating her as the perpetrator, not the victim
IN THE NEWS
Spokane County Fire District 8 firefighter-paramedics Meg Williams and Jennifer Raudebaugh said the milestone felt like just another day on the job
A judge who recently granted default judgment in favor of a female Country Club Hills firefighter who sued the city will now let a jury determine liability
The review was ordered after several women in the department complained of a discriminatory culture toward female firefighters
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball named fire service veteran Christine Uhlhorn the new chief of the fire department and said she can offer a “fresh perspective”
Kafi Davis, who left her first career at the Department of Children and Families to train to become a firefighter, will go to EMT school next
Ashley Blakely alleges that Deputy Chief John Patterson pursued her in “a very direct and inappropriate way”
San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, the first woman ever to lead the department and the longest-serving big-city fire chief in the country, is retiring
Katie Bean, Samantha McCulloch and Teresa Smith are the first three female firefighters to be a part of Midlothian Fire Department
Angelina Tirado said she hopes “to continue moving up” in the Clifton Fire Department
Chief Jodie Hettrick hopes to encourage other women to become first responders
“Firefighters,” a film based on the New York Times article “The Incarcerated Women Who Fight California’s Wildfires,” will star actress Margot Robbie
The video features women who attended WTREX, a training exchange that helps advance participants’ qualifications for wildland fire operations
Huntington Fire Chief Jan Rader, who was recently featured in the Netflix documentary “Heroin(e),” was recognized for raising awareness about the opioid crisis
Tanja Vidovic returned to the Tampa Fire Department after winning a $245,000 lawsuit against the city for terminating her because she was pregnant
Escambia County Commissioner Lumon May prompted discussion on how to increase fire department diversity after raising concerns
Indian River County firefighter Nicole Morris, who is 33-weeks pregnant, was given light duty after a doctor wrote a letter ordering the assignment
The bill, which was recently passed by county council, replaced all references of “fireman” to “firefighter” in the code
“We have a female who is eight months pregnant and expected to go into a burning building and perform firefighting duties. Let that sink in for a minute,” a union president said
Officials said 15 percent of the female firefighters between 40 and 50 years old have been diagnosed with breast cancer
Retired Captain Jeanette Woldseth was described as a “groundbreaker” who “paved the way for so many women”
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Chief Richard Bowers announced his retirement shortly after refusing to resign when the department was accused of harassing women
Nearly two years after filing a lawsuit, a federal judge ruled that Tanja Vidovic should be given her job back at Tampa Fire Rescue
London Fire Brigade Chief Dany Cotton said she received hate mail after advocating that people use the word “firefighter” instead of “fireman”
Steve Mittendorf’s call for the resignation of Fairfax County Chief Richard Bowers came soon after Battalion Chief Kathleen Stanley stepped down
Chief Kathleen Stanley resigned with a scathing letter that claiming the department has a “false commitment” to gender equality
Kelly Seiferheld is Citrus County Fire Rescue’s first career female firefighter and says she feels like she found a second family
The small town, all-volunteer station elected Karen Bodine to be the next chief, who is also the youngest to ever be elected
Trisha Wolford is the first woman to hold the assistant fire chief position at the Spokane Fire Department
Tanja Vidovic’s crew members were concerned about safety issues when she worked through her third trimester of pregnancy
ON THE BETTER EVERY SHIFT PODCAST
Better Every Shift’s resident scientist shares how the upcoming Science to the Station event helps firefighters connect with peers and experts
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
The co-founder of HeartFit for Duty shares the common risk factors for cardiac and cancer challenges – and the simple exercise with the greatest impact
Bassi, who serves as CEO for the Center for Public Safety Excellence, shares the power of department accreditation and personal credentials, plus ‘AI for newbies’
BOOKS BY FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS
A trailblazing memoir from Clare Frank, California’s first (and only) female chief of fire protection
Retired Captain Cindie Schooner-Ball offers readers a woman’s perspective on working in this male-dominated profession
Ruby has been assigned to Minneapolis Fire Station 7 for three months when she finally responds to her first house fire
Julie, the only woman on a 20-person crew, struggles to prove her worth and find a place in the very masculine world of firefighting