FireLink

I am not a firefighter, but I have wanted to become one since I was a little girl.  I am married to a volunteer firefighter, and was considering joining the dept myself.  But every time I bring it up, it becomes a very sticky subject with him and other guys on the dept.   Our local fire dept has never had a female on the dept since it opened 40plus years ago.  I am used to being the first female on lots of things, but am wondering if I were to join, if this would cause uneeded hostility on the dept.  Would love to hear some more insights.

Well... If it is a sticky subject just being brought up, then I would consider your options carefully.  Its a tough call!! You need to stand up for yourself, and go after what YOU want full force... However, strife in the department can put the lives of those who serve, as well as your community, in danger.  Ultimately, times are changing, and the boys need to move over - but - situations like this are hard to gauge and often even harder to change.... Go with your gut.  Don't be afraid to fight for what you want.  Don't expect it to be easy, and channel any negativity you meet into pushing harder for your goal. HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT.  Keep asking  yourself that.  Keep every experience you get, be it actual training or just learning how to deal as a female in a male dominated industry.  Give it all you've got and they'll be crazy if they do not accept you.  If (and hopefully this is NOT what happens) they ultimately cannot work with you, see if there is anywhere else in your area you can go.  Stay focused, never give up on your dream , and make sure every choice you make is the right one for YOU.  Go after it, girl - you can do anything you set your mind to!

If you do it its going to be really hard for them to accept you and your going to have to work twice as hard and that fun, loving, joking relationship you have with the other guys in the firehouse is going in the toilet

I am one of 2 active female firefighters on my department...and when I started 7 years ago I'll be honest, it was HELL! I had to work twice as hard to prove to them that I was able to do the job, and that I would have their back when needed. Once they figured out I was in it for the love of the job, and that I was good at it, nobody gives me any more crap. It may take a while but you just have to get in there and prove yourself!!

My outlook on it is that they DO NOT have the right to make you feel as if your not  supposed to be there...Be honest with yourself and if you know you want to do it, and your going to do EVERYTHING they do on a fire scene (because it seems some women get on thinking they are suposed to be treated differently because they are women, but on that fire scene that has to go out the wondow!)...then Go for it! Screw them if they dont like it...Its rediculous...for them to be that way if your capable of doing the job. Be ready though...you will be treated as one of the boys and a long with that comes lots of teasing and picking on eachother...if your tender hearted the fire house isn't the place for you. Also, if you have wanted to be a firefighter for that long, are you gonna let a bunch of macho ass holes tell you that you can't or shouldn't??!! Come on girl, get in there and show em whos boss!!  

Thanks to all of you who replied, it gives more hope and a little more confidence.  I know that I can do this line of work but sometimes we all need a little encouragement from others in the world who aren't so close to us.  I have decided to at least go talk to the fire chief and see what he thinks is the best way to go about this, whether I go get the schooling required first then join, or vise versa.  I know he is on my side, and I just recently found out that he told the guys on the dept, who have a problem with a woman on the dept,  that they can grow up or they can deal with him.  So anyway thanks again to all of you, and stay safe.

i will say go for it.  there are a few female volunteers with my department who really know their stuff and can do the job, and thats what matters.  try hard and study alot.  definately know exactly where everything is on all of the trucks and be ready to do anything that needs to get done.

It shouldn't start any problems.  If it does than maybe the other men there are trying to hide something.  My opinion is as long as you can do the job then why not go for it.  I know a few female firefighters both volunteer and paid, and there isnt any problems where they are.  Go for it.

id say go for it it will be hard at first you just have to prove your self that u want to do it and u can do it i know how hared it iis my dad is the cheif at the dept that i work at i know how difficult it is to be accepted iv been there for almost 5 years andi still deal with it most of them try to protect me from seeing or doing something that will hurt me and it drives me crazy and i have proven my self on many occations but to i am also the only active female ff and im the only single parent that is there too  id say go for it it is the best job i have ever had i love it

Outstanding idea.

  If you have the desire to join a fire department........you go for it.  I do not think sex should be a factor.  Our volunteer department has 30 members, 5 of with are females (2 of them are Lt's).  3 of them are structural firefighters and I'd be on a hose team wiht them anytime (matter of fact I have).  The 2 other ladies are key on scene support members who do not back down from the challenge.  These ladies are all good friends and outstanding members.  We treat all of our members and probationary members the same and our ladies put some of our males members to shame.

  One has to look at the persons actions and intestinal fortitude to find out if a person is a good firefighter, not their sex.