The U.S. Fire Administration says just nine percent of all firefighters nationwide are women. I’m Pari Apostolakos reporting in Suamico, where women here have defied that trend.
- An inside look at the Suamico Fire Department Station 1 with three women firefighters
- Nine out of the 40 firefighters in Suamico are women, a ratio far bigger than the national average
- Chief Joe Bertler says the department has not specifically tried to recruit this many women, but many hear about the department from the other women who work there
- All the firefighters we spoke with have one thing in common: they say not to let anything hold you back from your dreams
(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story)
The U.S. Fire Administration says just nine percent of all firefighters nationwide are women. I’m Pari Apostolakos reporting in Suamico, where women here have defied that trend.
Alysse Kott remembers the day she came to the Suamico Fire Department for a job interview.
“There were [two] women as soon as I walked in. I saw and I’m like wow, this is very unique.”