Women in the fire service(honest opinion)

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Permalink Reply by Hutcherson on November 5, 2007 at 8:02am

Personally I dont have a problem with women in the fire service. As long as you can do the job it dont matter if you are a man or a woman. But now I will say that the majority of women would have a hard time doing some of the things that may be required. Most women would not be strong enough to Pull someone my size in full turnout gear out of a burning building. I aint sayin that all women couldnt, just that most couldnt. But like I said before, if you can do the job it dont matter that you are a woman.

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Permalink Reply by Dennis on December 11, 2007 at 6:17pm

Thank YOU Fire Siren. Do we really have to go through this again??? We''ll just get the Philly guys all riled up again with this topic :)

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Permalink Reply by Band of Brothers pipes and drums on April 26, 2008 at 12:52am

This topic again huh... must be a fun one if it keeps coming up.

I've seen 2 seperate worlds of firefighting. I was with the National Park Service in '98 but eventually went with the structure side of things. I started as an EMT so I figured I'd always have a gig someplace as long as I kept my medical background.

As I vollied for a FD that ran ambulance, I saw women on the job. They were vollies too and I'd say, firewise, just 1 or 2 could pull my petite flower (6'4" 240lbs) ass out of a problem. Of course there were also some dudes then I know couldnt do it either. The problem is the girls were "dating" (term used on PG firefighter.com board, not the real term needed) a few of the ff's and including one AC. And while those boys may have been with those ladies they (the 'dating' menfolk) could still do the job of savin me. I couldnt hold it against them. I think we know what Im saying here...

The reason I brought up my short time with NPS is that to fight fires in the woods you have to pass an (pack test) agility test or 'red card'. 3mile hike in 45min with a 45lbs pack on ur back. EVERYONE had to do it. The girls I saw in camp and worked with were definitely capable of doing there job and really wanted to be there. Not as much on the structure/vollunteer world but distinctly noticable in the woodland fire setting. They also didnt date other firefighters either. Maybe a few did but they kept it very quiet. Most were also college educated.

Might wanna take each lady you know at the station on a case by case basis. While few women could haul me out I know some guys couldnt either, Im just a big deal. But most of those guys dont have the ability to hit me with a sexual harrassment charge that would stick either. The ladies do. Not saying that they all play that card but the few who do make it hard for the rest. Id take working the woods with the ladies over almost all the women Ive met on the structure side. They just didnt seem to be there for the job and its a shame.

That may have opened a can of poo for someone and while you are honked at me Im stickin to what Ive seen personally. Ive also seen guys too fat for the job that have no business on the fireground as well. I'll bet you have too. So dont flame me with mail, I'll just tell you to get bent...

BS+KFIYL

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Permalink Reply by Madfiregirl on November 2, 2008 at 5:04pm

Rock on. Thanks for being the guy who said it fairly. It's unfortunate that in this environment men & women can't be professionals at work and clean up their act. It's a shame people don't put the effort in to stay fit. And lastly, as a woman, I knew going into this job that I was an outsider and would have to put up with men being men. I'm not saying there aren't times when things go too far, but there are also times when things can get blown out of proportion. Ok, I'll shut up. later

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Permalink Reply by Mike Orbell on November 2, 2008 at 7:24pm

Hello Madfiregirl:

My name is Mike Orbell a fire fighter with the Inuvik NWT fire department and of 27 fire fighters at least 12 of them are women. And I wouldn't put is past any one of them to out do me on the fire ground. We should all be treated equally as a group of people fighting fire.

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Permalink Reply by Robert Owens on November 5, 2007 at 9:30am

Whenever I see women in the fire service I get nervous. You never know what normal converstaion will offend a woman. These days all that are needed are accusations to ruin someones life.

We recently had an incident here in my FD were a female firefighter working with a shift of all males. This stations is rather old so no seperated bunks. They get a call in the middle of the nite and while one of the guys is getting dressed she saw his penis. Well she flipped out and accused this guy of flashing her. This guy is a 12 year vet with a wife and kids and half asleep. This firefighter (i use the term loosely) decides to take offense to this thing that happens tomost men every AM when they wake up. Is that fair? I don't think so.

People should knwo what they are getting themselves into when you join the FD. Personally do you have a problem with penis should be an interview question, cause I have seen my fair share in that station becuase of either practical jokes, guys getting up in the middle of the nite, etc.

So my advice to all women is to grow some thicker skin. If someone is truly harrassing you trying to grope you, fondle you , asking for sexual favors etc. report it. But if you see some penis in the middle fo the nite ignore it.

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Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on November 5, 2007 at 10:27pm

I am in a station like this right now and sleep in the common dorm with 8 other men. I listen to the snore, unfortunately hear and smell them fart, and occassionally catch one with his pants down (everyone is wearing at least one layer). I have walked into the bathroom when they are using the urinal, I have seen them change. I'm the only woman in the station, across all four shifts. I see men coming to and from the shower at shift change sometimes.

I have to admit that being nervous seems to be natural. I know some of the guys have said the same to me, or they will ask me if I'm offended or correct themselves (I would rather listen to the stories and comments instead of being asked if I'm offended... haha...). It's still new and there's bound to be issues arising. As for the lady who took offense to a penis... Why was she looking?!

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on February 23, 2008 at 12:03am

we also have one bunk room and peersonally i never felt uncomfortable in the bunk room, but we do have a policy that you muct wear sleep pants and NOT just underwear to bed. This would help everyone and if there is a call you woulddt have to dress since your already suppse to wear sleep pants to bed.

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Permalink Reply by Pablo Gonzales on September 2, 2008 at 12:23pm

Man i have never seen so many people at odds over one thing. This is almost as bad as the one about vol. and career firefighter. Simply put if a women can do the job than let her do the job. But we all not just women or men but both need to cool it. we see enough bad stuff in the world doing the job. do we realy need to make more.

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Permalink Reply by turk182 on November 5, 2007 at 9:36am

I have no problem problem with women fire fighters. we have seven in our department and they all do what ever the job they are assigned.

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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on November 5, 2007 at 9:55am

why philly, the other 1,297 women in the fire service forums got you worn out?

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Permalink Reply by Firegal77 on November 5, 2007 at 10:20am

ROFLMAO Scared huh? I believe it was simply worded wrong...hope he doesnt get pelted, but just in case, I'll watch from right here behind you! ;)

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