Fire Princess

As male dominated as policing still is in this country, firefighter is even more so.


The first known woman firefighter was Molly Williams, a slave in New York City who became a member of Oceanus Engine Company #11 in about 1815. During World War II, women volunteered and took the place of men at war. Many places had all women fire companies during that time. 


There have been volunteer women firefighters for hundreds of years in this country, but the first paid firefighter was Sandra Forcier in 1973 in Winston NC. 

With rigorous physical requirements, female job applicants and successful candidates are very limited. Most departments make requirements the same for women as they are for men, unlike police which have different physical entrance requirements for each. Of the successful applicants, less than half actually become firefighters - either they are not selected or don't finish the basic training.

According to The National Report Card on Women in Firefighting, Less than 4% of firefighters are female and only 31 fire departments have women as their top-level chief.

                                       

Ring of fire cover by Gaby Garcia