Shropshire recruits all fired up by exciting new job as firefighters
One is a teaching assistant, another a fitness instructor and the third a barmaid – and all three are on their way to becoming firefighters.
The three women are the latest to join Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, bringing to 19 the number of women serving part-time.
They have been juggling work with family commitments while learning the ropes to become one of more than 300 on-call firefighters.
Kat Frost works as an evening barmaid at the Sun Inn at Clun. She is aged 29, and a mother of two young children aged four and two.
And her journey to her role as firefighter has seen her lose an amazing seven stones.
She has just finished the breathing apparatus test, in which recruits have to search and rescue a heavy dummy from a blackened, smoke filled building.
"It's one of the best things I have ever done. The adrenalin rush is amazing. You have to confront your fears and I just couldn't possibly have done this two years ago," she said.
"It's been an amazing 12 months from when I was accepted after passing the job-related tests to now just finishing the breathing apparatus course which tests you mentally and physically. But I did it."
Fellow trainee Michelle Townsend, 43, a mother of two and fitness instructor from Church Stretton, said: "I worked on my upper body strength and the course is brilliant and it didn't kill me. The instructors are excellent.
"It pushes you out of your comfort zone to do something that you never thought possible."
Michelle, who overcame a fear of claustrophobia to pass the breathing apparatus test, added: "I thought I was scared of confined spaces but I'm not. It's given me a real sense of achievement to overcome my fear."
Both women carry out their final On The Run practical test this week, when they will have to put out fires in a car, rubbish skip, shipping container and answer a mock call to deal with a house blaze.
Mother of two Steph Tench, 40, who has just passed her fitness test, starts her 17 week training course in March. She hopes to combine the role with that of a teaching assistant in Much Wenlock.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service says it is looking for more women to joint its ranks. Taster sessions for women will be held at fire stations in Oswestry on February 21, Craven Arms on May 2 and at another of Shropshire's 22 stations in September. Women can just turn up at 9.30am for the sessions, which run until midday.
On call firefighters must live or work within five minutes of a fire station, and are needed to turn out for a set number of hours each week to answer 999 calls and attend weekly drill sessions.
For more information call Laura Kavanagh-Jones at Shrewsbury fire HQ on 01743 260200.
