there has to be some"over 20 years of service female firefighters "still active out there somewhere

Just dropping in for a coffee to see if there are any female firefighters around who have been involved with the business for as long as I have. I have been a firefighter for almost 22 years in a rural volunteer department. I was the first active female firefighter in our county when I began. I have been very fortunate to have worked side by side with a bunch of wonderful guys of all ages. Both of my sons have also been involved with the dept. I hope there are some older women out there to share some stories with.

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Permalink Reply by penny on April 13, 2008 at 4:41pm
I had forgotten about riding on the back of the trucks. You very quickly learned how to flex your knees and go with the bumps. I'm sure that added to the reason that I need a hip replacement today. I wasn't that good at predicting the bumps. I was more interested in hanging on for dear life and not slipping or freezing. The guys would crack up whenever we went over a bump because they knew that I would scream. It took me a while to figure out that they did it on purpose not so much on the way to the fire but definitely on the way back to the hall. I learned to get to the hall quicker so I could be guaranteed a seat after that. Great fun though!
Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on April 13, 2008 at 5:18pm
Does anyone still have a set of red suspenders?
When I got on, I thought it was required equipment. I would leave my belt at home and hitch my jeans up with the red suspenders.
I still got them hanging in the closet.
Check out some of the older pictures on my page.
Pretty funny.
Art
Permalink Reply by Mary on April 15, 2008 at 9:17am
Hi Penny,
Nice to meet you. I have not been involved in the Fire Servcie for 22 years, 10 years, but I began my volunteer service as an older woman. First in a rural department and now in large urban area covering 53 sq. miles loaded with malls, nursing homes, a university, and simply everything. We have 4 stations and I am the only female firefighter in my station, combined we have seven women and 120 men. If you want to share stories that would be nice.
Mary
Permalink Reply by Shannon H. Pennington on April 17, 2008 at 4:52pm
Hey; yes to your questin....NAFFVN has helped at least two female firefightes one a capt who has 23 years service to access their pension benefits by providing support for their submissions...so yes ther are people out there....go to women in the fire service web page...you will find plenty...
be safe..
shannon h. pennington ptsd firefighterveteran web firefighterveteran.com/
Permalink Reply by Teryn on April 20, 2008 at 12:30am
I'm starting out fresh but I know I'll still be involved in the fire service in twenty years! I look up to women like you all, and it is very encouraging to see women who have had long, successful careers. Google my name in 20 years and hopefully I'll be a chief!
Permalink Reply by penny on April 20, 2008 at 9:56am
hey Teryn, I like your attitude. Sure you'll be around in the fire service in 20 years time. It doesn't take very long for the smell of the trucks and the comaraderie of your fellow firefighters to get into your system. If you dream it, you can make it happen. Good luck and I do hope I'm still around in 20 years to Google you or even remember how. haha
Permalink Reply by anne potter on April 20, 2008 at 4:46pm
I HAVE BEEN A FIREMAN SINCE I WAS 16.. I HAVE 10 FIRE CLASSES UNDER ME.. ALOT OF WOMEN FIREMAN IN THE NORTH COUNTRY.... WE ALL WORK VERY HARD ON THE SCENE AND RESPECTED BY ALL MALES... I ALSO FIRST WOMWN WITH IN OUR DEPT.. OH YEA 43 NOW

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