What do you think of women in the fire service?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin King on August 22, 2007 at 3:56pm

I personally know a few and they are outstanding FFs,have no problem with women in the job as long as they are prepared to do the job.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Ann McCullough on August 22, 2007 at 4:05pm

Being a female myself in the fire service, I must say it does have it's struggles. we aren't as tall, or have the upper body strength, but that doesn't mean we sure as hell aren't going to try and do what we need to do. My dept. is very open and willing to work with whomever whether male or female and is awesome. We have 15 full timers as of right now and 4 of them are women and one is a lieutant. I am the only active part time female firefigher but we also have about 5 other part women who work as medics, and one is also a p/t lieutant. Unfortunately many other depts. in my area have about 1 or no women working for it which is sad. Many of the men on those depts. have many opinions of women do not belong.... I look at it this way.. makes us have to work twice as hard to prove what we want to do... if its what you want to do... then is what we are going to... you can't let a guy hold you back from what you need to do.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin King on August 22, 2007 at 4:38pm

From what I've seen it's not just the guys that get in your way other women that are not in service don't like you gals being around the men.

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Permalink Reply by Erin Shea on August 22, 2007 at 4:51pm

Your absolutely right with that comment Kevin. I was the second female firefighter to join my department, after six months on I became a regular member and started taking FFI. Not too long after I joined the department another female joined. She came around a lot in the beginning partying with a lot of the guys and hanging out with them at bars. Then I noticed she starting dating a lot of the guys on the department or surrounding departments. Within a year of joining she was engaged to one of the guys on the department. Once she became married to him she no longer was interested in firefighting. I know there are women out there that join the fire service, especially volunteer departments just to get dates with firefighters. Personally, I made it a rule never to date any guy from my department. I think in the long run its too much of a conflict, especially if the relationship ends bad.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin King on August 22, 2007 at 5:10pm

It is also a dangerous distraction you can't concentrte on your job if your loved ones are in danger also. I know a married couple that used to work the same shift they learned its not a good thing the hard way.Its kind of funny,but could have been LODD.A kink in a 2" line pinched her,she squealed,he heard her and lost concentration and got gut hooked with a holligan(no injury except pride).They made the call to go separate shifts

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Permalink Reply by Dan Hoey on August 22, 2007 at 6:27pm

Thats part of the issue I have no problem with anyone in the fire service as long as they are there to do whats right and can do it. Male -female black white paid unpaid I dont care as long as they are able and willing, You do have those women who maker harder for people like you by doing that sleeping around a fire house or when a joke is said they are in the chiefs office or HR making a complaint I am not saying that we have the right to treat them bad but we all joke with one another male or female and if that goes the joy goes and the anger starts

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Permalink Reply by Ralph L. Carr IV on September 6, 2009 at 9:13am

Erin.......Ugggg......She wasn`t into "it" to actually BE a FF. She sounds like a uniform chaser. We all know the type. That type of female makes those that actually want to fight fire look bad by just chasing the guys......sigh.....damned females... ;)~

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Permalink Reply by Tammy L. Ayers on September 6, 2009 at 6:38pm

We call those kind of women lock lizards. Those are the kind of females that make it hard for us women who really have the heart for this.

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Permalink Reply by Damon Dyer on September 30, 2009 at 3:53pm

Badge bunnies around here.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa on July 31, 2009 at 12:51pm

Kevin, you totally just nailed it. Women are the biggest thing holding women back in this world. And in Fire it can be just as bad. You more drama coming from that then the men. lol

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Permalink Reply by Joe Sheldon on August 22, 2007 at 4:40pm

I think the fire service needs men and women. It is a fact that men and women are typically created differently, physically, emotionally, and in many other different ways. However, this balance is truly crucial to the survival of any society. I know many women in the fire service, and they perform their duties as well as, and often better, than their male counterparts. I think that may have a lot to do with the desire to prove themselves. I only wish many of the men on the department had that desire!

Our dept. just hired our first female, and I would say everyone gets along great. I think she has done a great job of commanding respect, and I think the men do respect her. What do you think Mel?

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Permalink Reply by Anya on August 22, 2007 at 4:46pm

I'm not at a department working yet but through experience in jr.fire [3 years now?] I've met lots of guys who respect me and a few who think I'm useless. For me, I get crap because I have a girly side that shows more and guys think, "shouldn't she be out getting her nails done?" I don't think gender should play a role in performance because there are women who can do the job just as well.

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