By Emma Dannenfelser
Firefighters are an integral part of society, and they have been throughout much of history, as well as the average American’s life. Children’s books, movies or cartoons, you name it, we were raised on stories about a man in that heavy, puffy suit saving people from ferocious fires. Today, young minds are being inspired to help the community as more women are not only becoming firefighters, but completely thriving in the field.
In 2020 men accounted for around half of all employment nationwide, but over three-fourths of protective services employees, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of 2020, only 4.4% of the nation’s firefighters were women. However, that number is due to rise in the future as more women pursue a career in firefighting.
Although fighting life altering flames sounds terrifying to many, with the split-second decisions, long hours and serious scenarios, Alexandra Wade from the Fayetteville Fire Department has always had a “hankerin’ for it”.
Growing up, Wade says she was always active. In college, she played basketball at Southern Arkansas University.
A career in firefighting matched everything that she was looking for. A job filled with comradery, brotherhood and challenging physical tasks.
“I was just like, Dadgumit, this is a dream. I’m just gonna chase it,” Wade said.
Wade began her career at North Little Rock Fire Department, where she said she was at first nervous to work in such a male-dominated field. She quickly realized that once she proved her work-ethic she was welcomed by her male peers with open-arms.
The job certainly does not come without a fair number of challenges, and for many female firefighters, the physical side of the job is an area where they have to develop more technical skills in order to match weights or repetitions with the men.
“There are standards that we have to meet, and that can be really difficult,” Alexis Flagg, with the Springdale Fire Department said. “We are expected to lift like everyone else. There are gentlemen here who are 6’5 and have a foot on me, I need to be able to do the same things as them.”
Enthusiastic and undyingly positive success stories, like Wade’s and Flagg’s, are common here in Northwest Arkansas, where departments intentionally work to provide more inclusion for women.
Some of these changes include things like prioritizing private bedroom and bathroom areas inside the department, however, many of the challenges that female firefighters face are found outside the firehouse and in the community, Thomas Jenkins, Rogers Fire Chief, said.
“The obstacles they face are often more cultural in the community. Unfortunately, even in 2022 we still find people who don’t associate the job of firefighting with a female,” Jenkins said. “Luckily, I think you would find that within the department, that stigma is extinct.”
As more women join the force, the public’s acceptance has also grown, Lacie Hewlett, from Rogers Fire Department said.
While the public commonly view men as stronger, Hewlett said female firefighters can have a special presence on many calls, offering a more calming presence.
Hewlett has been working for Rogers Fire Department since 2004, offering her a front-row seat to the developing inclusivity that stations around Northwest Arkansas are deservingly proud of.
“I think with the new kids coming in the mindset is just completely different. Everybody is just more accepting of everybody, for who they are no matter what they are,” Hewlett said. “I think it’s becoming easier for women now, compared to back-in-the-day.”
First responders everywhere are tasked with assisting with gruesome, tragic and bone-chilling scenes every day, which sometimes means carrying home an onslaught of emotions. However, recent years have shown the mental health of firefighters being prioritized, Jenkins said.
“There is a huge focus here on taking care of the station’s firefighters. A few years ago, talking about feelings was taboo and ‘hush-hush’, we were told to just ‘push it down and deal with it’,” Flagg said. “I think a challenge is just having enough mental strength and awareness for the mental health side of the job. But it’s facilitated well here, we have resources, and everyone is open and willing to help.”
Female Firefighters in Northwest Arkansas, but also nationwide, are on the rise. Now is the time for women to go after a career in firefighting, Flagg said.
“I like being in the fire service in this transitional time. For instance, in public I’ve had kids go ‘oh look firefighter woman!’ and it’s really rewarding to see this change,” Flagg said.