Why??

[futureff]

I'm 12/female, I want to be a firefighter. But the reason I'm writing this post is because I'm trying to figure out why my mom is always saying that it'll be to hard for me to do because of the upper body strength (there arn't any women firefighters near wear I live, and I don't know anybody in the fire service) Its just that I don't like to listen to its going to be to hard because your a girl. Why does it matter if I'm a girl? I know I want to be a firefighter. I also get teased at school because I'm a girl and want to be a firefighter.(They all think that only men should be a firefighter)
Also does anyone know of some sports that can help to get you in shape..I know I have years ahead of me...but I know it'll pay off in the future.


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Though I am Free and belong to know man, I make my self a servant to others, to save as many as possible.
1 Corinthians 9:19

[Engine508]

First of all...I think its great you want to be a firefighter..Unfortunatley we are the same here only 1 Female Firefighter throughout all 5 Fire companies and out of 180 Firefighters...As for the working out thing..I'd say start liftin weights..Not to heavy at first just do a little bit at a time..Thats how I started when I was 13..Now I'm 15 and I'm pretty big and strong...I started out doing a little bit of weight lifting every other day then as I got into it more I started lifting heavier..So far the results are pretty good. I cant complain. BUT also gotta keep eatin right and all that stuff...And Good Luck in the Fire Service.

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Andrew
"You Go....We Go"
"Emt's Don't Die They Stabalize" http://hometown.aol.com/engine058/1stpage.html

[explorer36]

In our explorer post we have 2 females and they can don't the work the same or better! You should just keep with it and don't let those kids get you down! Good luck!!

Joe
President - WHTFC Explorers

[jrfemaleff]

futureff,
I think it's great that you want to be a firefighter! You can do it. And don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't. That's what they told me, but boy were they wrong. Now, after working my butt off, I'm rookie of the year. Listen to your heart and follow your dreams. Don't ever let the kids at school bother you. Some of them probably want to be firefighters too but someone's telling them they cant. My best advice is, FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.

-Mallory-

E-Mail me if you need anything.
Malloryhumm@yahoo.com

"I am Female firefighter...Hear me ROAR!"

[kiddo]

Hey,

It's great you want to be a firefighter--there's not that many of us females out there that want to do the job. First of all, talk to your parents...you've probably already let them know how you feel, but maybe doing a little research will help. I think learning around a station has a better outlook than running the streets at night. The kids at school...don't let them get you down. It's your dreams and YOU are striving to fulfill them. Education is essential.

Working out..hey, I'm 17 y/o, 5'7", 125 lbs, and I can lift 165 lbs...you can do it. I started, well, tried to fight fire when I was 11 y/o, and I've found that Andrew was right, eating the right foods, lifting weights gradually, LIFTING WITH YOUR LEGS, NOT YOUR BACK, and going for the tone (being a girl), not the bulk. You might already know, but a lot of FF's these days have back trouble...lift with your legs, please remember that. I know you have it in you to do it, and others are here to guide you.

Need anything: kiddo39@hotmail.com

Playin' where the devil dances!

[OCFireEXP]

yeah its all good about the gender thing, but if you cant do the work, gender or no gender, youre gonna be out on your ass. go hit the weights if you wanna make it, because youre not gonna make it if you cant pull your weight.
and dont pull the gender thing "you just dont want me cuz im a woman" crap. if you do that, we wont want you cuz your a big pain in the ass, and we wont want you to back us up on a garden hose, cuz we would be afraid you wouldnt be able to hack it. just be the gray person- not all womans rights, but not trying to be one of the guys. just exist. and allow some time for the guys to adjust, because they will eventually. and dont date someone thats gonna be riding on the same engine as you- its just a bad idea.

just my thoughts
Joe

[Raptor557]

Go for it!!! LIke Engine508 said, start weight training and eat right. I know several female firefighters where I live (although only one is paid/full-time) and they all do everything everyone else does. One is only 4'6", but she will still bunker out and go into a house fire. She is quite literally strong as an ox =) Unfirtunately, I know of no young women around here who are interested in the fire service. Good luck and stay safe.

[jr.fire]

Here I know two female firefighters and i wouldn't mess with either one of 'em because they could probably kick my ass. Like every oone else said, lift some weights, and don't let those kids bother you. Also don't let people tell you "can't" do something, what do they know? They have no idea what people can do if they really put their heart into it. Good luck and stick with your dream.

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From the stairways of hell to the gates of heaven in 5 minuts.

[Animal]

Hey, don't let people get you down.. To tell you a story, I'm 6'5" and 265 pounds. My girlfriend, who was also a firefighter with my company, was about 5'2" and 140 pounds. And I felt better going into a structure or on an extrication with her than most of the other men on the shift (c: Women can be great firefighters, and they can be not-so-great firefighters, just like men. Good luck, and don't be discouraged. If you really want to do it, go for it!

[michael101184]

Hello my name is mike ans 16 and am currently the youngest firefighter in the country. I have been through the training and it is very difficult and hard to take. I and other grown men have cried and been knocked to there knees due to the training. i think it is great that you want to become a F/F and i think you should go for it. Work hard and you can accomplish your goals.


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Michael Niesen

[sohardy]

futureff, I'd like to tell you a (war) story.

I am a Firefighter in Nevada with a pretty good size city department. One night my Captain had to leave on family business which meant I had to "bump up" to Captain. The rest of the crew was another man who was driving and 2 women Firefighters. The first woman I had fought fire with before and I knew she would do a great job if we had a fire. The second woman was barely out of the academy and I had really just met her, so I didn't know much about how well she would do the job. This would apply to a man just as well, until you work a fire with someone you just don't know. Anyway, sure enough we get dispatched to a warehouse fire and we know it's a pretty big fire because we can see it leaving the station. We arrive first and this warehouse is fully involved in fire and getting worse.(shortly it became a second alarm fire.) I ordered the Firefighters to pull a 2 and 1/2 inch hoseline to attack the fire. If your not familiar with what that means it's usually the biggest hose you can use to attack a fire, it is big and heavy and very hard to move around no matter who you are. We couldn't go into the warehouse because it was way past the point of an interior attack, so we worked on the outside trying to stop the fire from getting to other warehouses around the building on fire. The 2 women had the hose and handled it like seasoned professionals, they advanced the hose down an alley and stopped the fire from getting to the other warehouse. Another crew had the same kind of hose on the other side of the fire but they had five people to handle their hose. After we got the other building protected we started to fight the fire in the main warehouse. Just so you understand, most of the time it was just the 2 women on our hose because I had Captain stuff to take care of. After the fire was under control, I found out that one of the women had been burned by the heat and had a nail go through her boot. She never said anything to me while we were fighting the fire and even then she didn't want to go to the ambulance and leave her crew short handed. Th point is that is doesn't matter if your male or female, the job is about having the heart and the willingness to get the job done. I would fight fire with these women anytime, anywhere because I know they are true Firefighters and I can count on them. I have 2 daughters of my own and would be very proud if they choose to become Firefighters when they grow up. Being a Firefighter is the best job in the world and I hope you stick to your dream. It will take alot of hard work on your part, but if you want it, you CAN be a Firefighter.

[Styles]

Is does not matter that you are a female. In our district we have many female volunteers and some of them are station captains. In our Explorer Post we have 5 women out of 9 total, and our 1st Lt is a woman.

[Fire Chick 222]

futureff - all i can say is dont ever give up. i'm a 16 yr old female and i've wanted to be a firefighter ever since i could talk. i've put up with so much from everyone..some are supportive while others just made me feel like i couldnt do anything. but i didnt let them get to me and now im a explorer. i played soccer for 10 years and ran cross country for 2 years. that kept me in shape and now im swimming laps and lifting weights. just do whatever you can that tones your body and keeps you in shape. do what you feel most comfortable with. just remember, dont let some people get you down and never give up your dream. if you ever need to talk, email me at ShortyFF2@aol.com


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"STAND BACK 500 FEET"

[fire freak]

Im 17 & jr firefighter I think its really cool that you want to become a Jr firefighter, don't let your friends or any one else bother you I always get picked on to but hey comes with the territory!!! You can play all kinds of sports. Dont let no one push you around just because you want to become a Female Firefighter!!! Well good luck in fighting fires.

[Eng91ine]

GO 4 IT!! The only person who can stop you is yourself! It is really great to see that a young girl such as your yourself is interested in the fire service. I think what you need to do now is to continue to show an interset in firefighting and start working out to develop your upper body stregnth. Then when you become of age join your local fire dept. and give it your all! If you do this you will equal or exceed your male counterparts!

[HILLBILLY70]

IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, YOU CAN!
DO NOT GIVE UP. As far as the physical activity, what everyone else says is right, and many sports are a great way to get in and remain in shape. And to all of you who are looking to a future as a firefighter in any aspect, GOOD LUCK!

[NCRSQ751]

Don't worry about being female. I got the same stuff when I was first getting into it, many many years ago. Just make sure that you always pull your weight and never let them give you different standards because you're a girl.

Make sure they give you all the same jobs and duties as the male explorers and (later) firefighters. If they don't give them to you, ask for them! It's up to you to make the point that you want to be treated like everyone else.

Weight training and excercising in general is a really good idea, and listen to that advice about learning to lift properly - make sure you have someone working with you so you don't learn any bad habits that can get you hurt.

Keep up the good work and attitude and you WILL be a firefighter!

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Susan Bednar
Captain - Forsyth Rescue
North Carolina Strike Force 1

[jrfemaleff]

You sound very determined to do it. Keep going and follow your dreams! Don't let the boys get to you. You will have this problem Everywhere you go. I am a 16 yr old female and I am a Jr. firefighter in PA. I have a real passion for firefighting. No matter the jokes they play, the comments they make, the looks they give, DON'T GIVE UP! That'd mean they'd win. WE are the future of females in the fire service. If firefighting is going to change, WE have to change it. When I started, I think now that it was just to prove something to a guy I liked who was a firefighter. But now, I couldn't care less what he thinks. If you want to be a firefighter, DO it! But don't make the mistake I did at first, do it because YOU want to. I can't imagine my life without firefighting. I love it so much. You are going to make a great firefighter, I know. Keep with it. Contact me sometime. I would love to talk to you. Stay safe.

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Mallory
Jr. Firefighter
Station 74, Montgomery Co. PA
" I am Female FireFighter....Hear Me ROAR!"
E-Mail:jrfirefighterstation74_20 00@yahoo.com

[Fyrball105]

OK, first I'm not a female firefighter, But I understand the "you can't do that" speach. That is what I have been told all my life, From when I was born, docters found I had Cerebral Palsy, that effects my legs, I was told you'll never walk and you'll be in a wheelchair all your life, well I do walk, a little funny, but I walk..Now I'm 5'8" 110lbs. really small for my age, I'm 26, I'll be the last to say a woman can't fight fire because they are not strong!! I am working on my 11th year as firefighter, got a great bunch of guys with me, because #1 thing about firefighting is team work, do what you can and the team wins.. never give less that 100% of your self and no you will doubt you. I want to say I think It's great you know what you want to do with your life, and I'm wishing you all the luck in the world. I know If I can get here so can you!!!

C.Carrier
H.T.V.F.D.
>>JOHN 15:13<<

[HFDPOST321]

I think it's great that you are determined to be a firefighter. There are 2 girls in my explorer post and they do just as well, if not better,. than some of the guys. We went rapelling last month and they were more determined and weren't as scared as some of the guys that rapelled. I think you can do it if you just keep your head up and don't give up. As a few other people said, to help yourself with the strength start lifting weights. Once in high school maybe you could try getting into a weight lifting class, you get a credit for it too. I lifted all school year last year and there were plenty of girls that did it too. I don't know whats best for you, but just doin't give up, i believe you can do it. Good luck in the future.

James

Deputy Chief, Hagerstown Fire Deptartment Explorer Post 321

[eng7ine]

we have a couple woman ff's at our small station but compared to your ambition they are couch potatoes.im a 15/m and am far from being worlds strongest geek,but i love what i do(well what i am going to do in a year)and you dont have to be the strongest person.i cannot recall anything that actually tested my strength since i have been in the feild of firefighting.you will be alright.

kyle minnick
cadet smithsburg fd

[FPT1]

I've been a fire fighter/instructor for 14 years. After reading the replies to your post, I am pleased to see that we have a generation of future fire fighters who are concerned more with getting the job done rather than the gender of the fire fighter. As an academy instructor, I've seen great fire fighters from both genders. Your fellow fire fighters have said it all... keep up the good work, believe in yourself, and stay in shape. I'm sure with attitudes like that, the fire service is going to be even better when you guys take over.
Benjamin Warren
MS Academic Fire Program
Meridian Community College

[FSRIZZIO]

HYA, My wife and I have four daughters. I'll tell you just like I tell them, "the world is yours, you can become anything you want". They have an ambition that I see in few boys around us. My 16 year old started in basketball and softball when she was a little younger than you are now, she weight trains (for strength and endurance, not bulk). She's one of the prettiest girls in school ( you bet I'm proud), and she can outrun and outbox just about everyone that thinks they need to know. When she's 18 I'd love to put her to work on our crew, but she can't see that happening. Aim high with your ambitions, you can do it.
Be Safe, Frank


[This message has been edited by FSRIZZIO (edited August 22, 2000).]

[SCAFDEXP]

FutureFF:
Being a female has nothing to do with being a firefighter. We currently have two females on our explorer post, one of whom is currently our Explorer Chief. We also have numerous females in our department who are Senior Firefighters. Don't let anyone discourage you, be it people at school or your parents. If you have it in your heart to be a Firefighter, than you can be that. Don't let anyone stand in the way of your dreams. Be tough and stay safe.


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Nick Funk
Explorer
Swartz Creek Area Fire Dept.
Post 41

"I FIGHT what you FEAR."

[Brian Book]

Are leader is a women, and she is a firefighter/paramedic and a good one at that she has been on the job for 5 yrs now. We also have a women in are group. So hang in there and keep trying you will make it.

Capt Cadet Book

[firebox1]

futureff, there isn't a whole lot to say know b/c everyone else as already said it but don't let anyone get you down and do me a favor show everyone that said you can't do it that you can do it and one day it might be their live you save, let's see how they feel then.
stay safe
firebox1
training officer
investigator

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[titorobfiregod]

i think that it's great that u want to join! i want to join the explorers too, and even though i'm not a girl i kinda feel your pain because my mom thinks my joining will make me grow up too fast.

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Find 'em hot, leave 'em wet!

[ccfd757]

I think that it is a great think that u want to be on a fire dept. We had a female on our dept. and she did okay. She is no longer with us b\c she has not showed up for drill in like 7 weeks. But i think the hardest part for her was handling the emotional part. And school thigs but we all have proplems with that.

T.Krebs
Central Campbell Fire
Station 7
E-701
Ky

[vollieff]

I'm also glad to see the responses her to post. One thing you may want to consider that seems to be missed her. WE ARE A TEAM. If a fellow FIREFIGHTER needs help doing someting becouse of there size, then help them out. there are men that are strong in there upper body and some not strong, but they are all firefighters. As far as I'm concerned there are no weak firefighters, just bad attitudes or bad training. If you can't handle a large hose, then you will do something else, the are no un-important jobs on a fireground. Every job from rolling hose to the attack line ARE important. Your bigest asset to the fire Dept. is your brain not your strength. I would take a 110lbs firefighter with the brains over a 200lbs firefighter that's not so smart any day into a worker. I trust him to watch out for me and vice versa. Firefighting has changed over the years you have to use your knowedlge and experience not just you physical strength.
Good luck in what ever you decide, but don't let anyone tell you that you have to have great upper body strength (don't get me wrong, it helps) to become a firefighter. Excersizing your brain is just as important in the fire service today as you muscles.