A Wednesday job offer from Cosumnes Fire marks the next step for Kayla Kerney, who led her 30-student class through Cosumnes River College’s Fire Technology program. CBS Sacramento reported that Kerney, a widowed mother of two, is preparing to begin a full-time firefighter career while carrying the memory of her late husband, Harlin.
In comments to CBS Sacramento, Kerney described choosing the fire service as a new purpose she called God-driven. Her father, Tim O’Hara, an adjunct professor in the program, said he believes it has helped her process grief and could prepare her to support others facing similar tragedies. CBS Sacramento also reported that Kerney grew up watching her father fight fires and was inspired by his example.
The job offer landed Wednesday, placing Kerney among a small slice of the nation’s firefighting workforce. Women account for only about 4% to 5% of career firefighters and roughly 9% of all firefighters in the United States, according to National Fire Protection Association data, making her appointment to a full-time firefighter job notably rare.
A Four-Decade Pipeline Into the Fire Service
The CRC Fire Technology program has prepared students for fire service careers for nearly four decades, training them to respond to emergencies in both urban and rural settings, the CBS Sacramento report notes. The academy operates through a joint internship arrangement between the college and Cosumnes Fire that dates back to 1987, according to Cosumnes River College. The Fire Technology program is accredited by California State Fire Training…