Female Firefighters Wanted In Portland

PORTLAND, OR — For the past decade, Portland Fire & Rescue personnel have hosted annual fire camps for young girls and women interested in firefighting careers. This week, the Portland City Council will honor that 10-year effort by proclaiming April 'Portland Metro Fire Camp for Young Women Month.'

"Women have the potential to be great firefighters, but many still don’t know that this is a possible career opportunity," Portland Fire & Rescue Chief Mike Myers said in a statement. "The camp smartly gives these young women the chance to hold the tools we use and run through training exercises, some of the things that young men might more readily have access to growing up."

Established in 2008, the Portland Metro Fire Camp offers three days of hands-on firefighting skill training for young girls and women between 16 and 20 years old. Portland Fire & Rescue will offer this year's camp in July.

The camp's participants are reportedly shown search and rescue techniques, asked to pull hoses and break down doors, climb ladders, and more.

The first camp offered saw 14 participants learn the ways of Portland Fire & Rescue. Now, the camp averages roughly 40 women each year — a capacity so much greater that PF&R is now teaming up with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue to offer a second camp in August.

"Local female firefighters, including some of TVF&R’s own, have done a great job creating and running this camp," TVF&R Chief Mike Duyck said. "We’re glad that we can help support its growth and introduce even more young women to this dynamic and fulfilling career choice."

Introduced to firefighting during the 2013 camp, PF&R firefighter Kaylee Kolin was officially sworn in as a full-time employee in 2016.

"The camp helped me discover that I have a real passion for this job and the hands-on instruction showed me that I have a capacity for it," she said in a statement.

The Portland City Council will make its official proclamation during its meeting Wednesday, April 25.

Interested women are urged to apply online at PortlandOregon.gov. The deadline to apply for either of the 2018 camps is June 10.

Images via Portland Fire & Rescue