Published Wednesday, July 20, 2022, 0930 hours PT
The second annual Portland Metro Fire Camp had 34 young women graduate from their program this year has been a huge success!
Fire Fact | There is about 15,200 or four percent, who are female career firefighters.
The tagline for this three-day camp is easier said than done: “A camp for young women to experience what it means to be a Firefighter.”
“I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.” – Joshua Graham
It is geared to young women ages 16-22 years old.
The Camp is designed to teach young women how to become firefighters through the instruction of 26 professional female firefighters who represent career fire agencies across the West Coast.
Some of the training, “campers” receive are to strengthen their confidence, establish leadership, and build team skills through hands-on firefighter training such as taking hydrants, hose work, controlling nozzles, turret and standpipe evolutions, rope operations, ladders, search and rescue, extrication, forcible entry, emergency medical skills, nutrition, physical fitness, and interview techniques.
“All women are created equal, and then a few become sisters.” – Unknown
All of these are what make a female firefighter empowered to achieve anything that may come their way.
A perfect program to get that young girl’s interest in what it takes to become a successful female firefighter, a well-established leader, and confident in everyday life.
Fire Fact | There are approximately 78,000 or more who are female volunteer firefighters.
These career firefighters were from Portland Fire & Rescue, Hillsboro Fire & Rescue, Tacoma Fire Department, Shoreline Fire Department, Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, Hood River Fire and EMS, Alby Fire Department, Bend Fire and Rescue, Lake Oswego Fire Department, and the Ventura County Fire Department.
There were two camps held this year, July 8-10, 2022, at the Portland Fire and Rescue Training Center off 122nd Avenue, and the second program on July 15-17, 2022 at the Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Training Center off of Tonquin Road.
To check for future dates for this camp, you can visit the Portland Metro Fire Camp website under “Apply” at http://www.portlandmetrofirecamp.com/how-to-apply or you can visit the City of Portland’s website to view previous camps in 2020. There is a really great website on their fire camp operations also. The site can be assessed here https://www.portland.gov/fire/join/fire-camp
“Man may have discovered fire, but women discovered how to play with it.” – Unknown
To find out more information about becoming a female firefighter, you can visit the Women in Fire website found at https://www.womeninfire.org. They have some really great information related to all aspects of a professional career in the fire service.
All Photos Credit: Blackfire Photography (www.blackfirephotography.com)
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