2 answers
Bella
Student
Moorpark, California
1
Question
Asked
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What is it like to be a female firefighter?
For a while, I didn't really know what I wanted to be and stuck to the idea of being a real estate agent since it looked "easy" and luxurious. But in reality, I wanted something that was very active and not boring. I like to be active and work out and stay in shape, so really researching a career in firefighting sparked my interest and basically was everything I wanted in a career. I know the field is very competitive and the percentage of women is very small. I would just like to know the best advice for becoming a future female firefighter and things to help me succeed.
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2 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
3284
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Bella !
I can't tell you what it's like to be a firefighter, but I think you are so brave and honorable to feel drawn to this career !
Your first step would be to obtain your Emergency Medical Technician certification because many counties in California require this including your county of Ventura. You then take and pass a physical ability test, such as the Candidate Physical Ability Test, which assesses strength, endurance, and agility. You then take and pass a written exam, often the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center Written Test, which evaluates knowledge in areas like human relations, mechanical reasoning, reading comprehension, and math. So the process is submitting an application, passing written and physical exams, participating in interviews, undergoing a background investigation, and completing a medical and psychological evaluation. It can take a long time, so apply soon.
One thing I can advise as I've learned this from a friend, the uniform and gear you will need to wear are heavy. Perhaps engage in weight bearing exercise to train for this. Also, just a tip, if on the psychological test they ask you if you are afraid of fire, say yes. It's not normal to not be afraid of fire.
They say that volunteer work, seasonal firefighting, or private ambulance employment can significantly improve your chances, so go for any type of training or volunteer work possible before you apply and while you are going through the process.
No one really has to tell you what being a firefighter is like. It's dangerous, hot, smoke-filled and sometimes there will be intense fires and sometimes small and at other times false alarms. Being comfortable with being spontaneous will be important. The work may have you encountering some disturbing sights, too.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best in this most important career pursuit !
I can't tell you what it's like to be a firefighter, but I think you are so brave and honorable to feel drawn to this career !
Your first step would be to obtain your Emergency Medical Technician certification because many counties in California require this including your county of Ventura. You then take and pass a physical ability test, such as the Candidate Physical Ability Test, which assesses strength, endurance, and agility. You then take and pass a written exam, often the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center Written Test, which evaluates knowledge in areas like human relations, mechanical reasoning, reading comprehension, and math. So the process is submitting an application, passing written and physical exams, participating in interviews, undergoing a background investigation, and completing a medical and psychological evaluation. It can take a long time, so apply soon.
One thing I can advise as I've learned this from a friend, the uniform and gear you will need to wear are heavy. Perhaps engage in weight bearing exercise to train for this. Also, just a tip, if on the psychological test they ask you if you are afraid of fire, say yes. It's not normal to not be afraid of fire.
They say that volunteer work, seasonal firefighting, or private ambulance employment can significantly improve your chances, so go for any type of training or volunteer work possible before you apply and while you are going through the process.
No one really has to tell you what being a firefighter is like. It's dangerous, hot, smoke-filled and sometimes there will be intense fires and sometimes small and at other times false alarms. Being comfortable with being spontaneous will be important. The work may have you encountering some disturbing sights, too.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best in this most important career pursuit !
Ryan Pfeiffer, MA
Firefighter Lieutenant / EMT
118
Answers
Fort Collins, Colorado
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Hello Bella! I can't give you any first hand insight into being a female firefighter, but I will say that it is very obtainable! I've worked in public safety for almost 20-years, and some of the coolest, hardest working, firefighters I know are women.
You've already said you're physically active, which is great. The physicality of firefighting can be a challenge for many women who, on average, don't have the same muscle strength as men. There are minimum requirements in this area (if you haven't already, look up "the CPAT" which is one of the most common entry level firefighter fitness tests in the country), so make sure you work to be able to pass them. High Intensity Interval "crossfit style" workouts are great for preparing for these kinds of tests. But don't ignore the other aspects of fitness - statistically you will be more flexible than your male coworkers, and you'll still need strong endurance (VO2 Max).
As you identified, firefighting is a traditionally male dominant career field. I won't lie to you and say there are no sexists out there. You may be treated differently by some folks. My best advice here is to do your research before applying for jobs. Talk to department recruiters, see if you can get in touch with female firefighters currently working for the department, etc. As a whole the fire service is definitely getting more diverse, but you might still find pockets of resistance. I'd suggest finding and avoiding those pockets, but that'll be your decision to make.
When you do get hired or start an academy, find and listen to your female instructors and mentors and understand the why behind what they're telling you. Sometimes female firefighters can be harder on other female firefighters than the males because they have more at stake - they fought hard to get where they're at and they don't want another female coming in, not performing well, and making a bad name for them. I've seen female instructors absolutely tear female recruits apart for wearing too much makeup, too much jewelry, acting unprofessional, etc. Don't take it personally. Along those same lines, female instructors make some of the best skills instructors! They actually teach good techniques that make the tasks way easier. When I first learned there wasn't much technique - we just muscled the hoses and ladders and mannequins into submission.
Also along the lines of finding a mentor, get affiliated with some support groups. Women in Fire is one of the big ones, with chapters all over the country.
Lastly, you may not have to give up on the real estate dream. I know several firefighters that work as real estate agents on their days off! A benefit of the firefighting schedule is that it often allows for side jobs. How busy of a department you work for will have some impact on that, but it is possible.
I hope that helped. If I can answer any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
You've already said you're physically active, which is great. The physicality of firefighting can be a challenge for many women who, on average, don't have the same muscle strength as men. There are minimum requirements in this area (if you haven't already, look up "the CPAT" which is one of the most common entry level firefighter fitness tests in the country), so make sure you work to be able to pass them. High Intensity Interval "crossfit style" workouts are great for preparing for these kinds of tests. But don't ignore the other aspects of fitness - statistically you will be more flexible than your male coworkers, and you'll still need strong endurance (VO2 Max).
As you identified, firefighting is a traditionally male dominant career field. I won't lie to you and say there are no sexists out there. You may be treated differently by some folks. My best advice here is to do your research before applying for jobs. Talk to department recruiters, see if you can get in touch with female firefighters currently working for the department, etc. As a whole the fire service is definitely getting more diverse, but you might still find pockets of resistance. I'd suggest finding and avoiding those pockets, but that'll be your decision to make.
When you do get hired or start an academy, find and listen to your female instructors and mentors and understand the why behind what they're telling you. Sometimes female firefighters can be harder on other female firefighters than the males because they have more at stake - they fought hard to get where they're at and they don't want another female coming in, not performing well, and making a bad name for them. I've seen female instructors absolutely tear female recruits apart for wearing too much makeup, too much jewelry, acting unprofessional, etc. Don't take it personally. Along those same lines, female instructors make some of the best skills instructors! They actually teach good techniques that make the tasks way easier. When I first learned there wasn't much technique - we just muscled the hoses and ladders and mannequins into submission.
Also along the lines of finding a mentor, get affiliated with some support groups. Women in Fire is one of the big ones, with chapters all over the country.
Lastly, you may not have to give up on the real estate dream. I know several firefighters that work as real estate agents on their days off! A benefit of the firefighting schedule is that it often allows for side jobs. How busy of a department you work for will have some impact on that, but it is possible.
I hope that helped. If I can answer any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.