Women have been involved in the fire service for hundreds of years in the United States. One of the first known women who served as a firefighter was Molly Williams, who was held in slavery by a member of the Oceanus Engine Company #11 in New York City and served with that crew admirably in the early-1800s. In the years that followed, women served as volunteer structural firefighters, wildland firefighters and other types of emergency responders.
Everything changed 50 years ago, when the first woman was hired as a full-time career firefighter in the United States. Since then, the fire service has seen some significant changes when it comes to the inclusion of women in the workforce.
Slow by steady change
A lot more women have become firefighters … In 1974, there was one single-function career female firefighter in the United States. Her name is Judy Brewer. By 1980, there were 200. Today, according to the NFPA, there are around 15,000 women serving as career firefighters, and an additional 78,000 who are volunteers.
Read next: First due: Meet Judy Brewer, the first female career firefighter
… But still not that many. Those numbers might sound impressive, but women still only account for 4% of career firefighters and 11% of volunteers. Additionally, there is not a trend of women increasing in numbers in the service – 25 years ago, women made up 3.7% of career firefighters.
Laws have changed. Although national laws that prohibit employment discrimination based on sex have been on the books since 1964, there was not much interest in or enforcement of these laws until the 1970s. Women who applied for firefighter positions often had their applications rejected without any consideration in those early years. Laws prohibiting workplace sexual harassment were not in place until 1980 (for quid pro quo harassment) and 1986 (for hostile environment harassment).
Fire departments are more family-friendly. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) of 1978 and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 made combining family and firefighting more realistic for women. Prior to these laws taking effect, a woman could be fired from her job for becoming pregnant and had no guarantee of time off for childbirth. The law still only requires that employers allow unpaid leave, but some states and organizations choose to provide more benefits. For example, Colorado’s new Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program guarantees paid leave to new parents anytime within the first 12 months after a birth, adoption or foster care placement.
Fire departments are rethinking station design. When women were first hired as firefighters, one of the big questions was: Where will they sleep? Traditional fire stations had open dorms and only one bathroom/locker room. Remodeling fire stations is expensive, and many departments did not invest in it early on. Women had to adapt to the status quo, which meant sharing dorm space and often having less access to bathroom facilities (especially showers) when on duty. In more recent years, as departments need to update aging infrastructure, more attention has been given to providing equal access to living space in the stations regardless of gender.
Read next: Gender neutral or gender inclusive? What to consider in fire station design
Fire departments have reconsidered grooming standards. When women were first hired as career firefighters, some departments required that they meet the existing grooming standards for men on the job, which sometimes included military-style haircuts rather than just requiring that longer hair be restrained. Those standards have changed over time not only in the fire service but in the military as well.
Uniforms and PPE have become more accessible, but slowly. Gear that is designed for men simply doesn’t fit most women. This goes for station uniforms as well as PPE. Many departments customize bunker gear for members, but things like gloves and boots continue to be a problem for those who do not fall within the “average” size range. Some manufacturers have made an effort to design safety gear specifically for women, but change has been slow in this area.
Women have moved into leadership roles. Women started promoting within their own departments within a few years of being hired, but their advancement into leadership did not stop there. Women have led large departments as chiefs; they have led unions and other professional organizations; they have served as the U.S. fire administrator and the superintendent of the National Fire Academy.
Benefits for ALL firefighters
The face of the U.S. fire service has changed since women became career firefighters 50 years ago, and every change that came with the inclusion of women has benefitted all firefighters and the fire service as a whole. For example, it should be noted that the FMLA and related laws apply to both men and women who need or desire to care for a child within one year of birth or adoption, or who need time off to care for a seriously ill family member. Likewise, laws and policies that prohibit workplace harassment apply equally to everyone regardless of sex.
Some of the issues that became apparent with the hiring of women already existed but were not being addressed. Many men have had problems with gear fit, sometimes causing safety risks such as generically sized air masks that did not fit well, but often these problems were overlooked. When departments started redesigning fire stations, they discovered that most members desired a bit more privacy and personal space, regardless of sex.
Grooming standards are another area that has transcended gender differences. A greater openness to differences in physical appearance has allowed fire departments to rethink strict, excluding policies, such as those that prohibited any visible tattoos, and focus on grooming policies from a standpoint of professionalism and safety rather than meeting one rigid standard.
The inclusion of women in leadership has changed the narrow definition of what a fire service leader looks like and has opened the door to different leadership styles. Again, this wider net ultimately benefits everyone, and the organizations they serve.
Final thoughts
Women come on the job wanting the same things as their male counterparts – to have equal opportunity to fulfill their potential and serve their communities, and to be part of an honored team while achieving these goals. For some women, this goal has been attained. For others, challenges remain. The fire service has come a long way in the past 50 years. Women are part of that change process and will be part of a positive and unlimited future for the emergency services.
