Kat's on top of the world as a Shropshire firefighter
Firefighter Kat Frost has proved women really can stand shoulder to shoulder with their male colleagues.
The mother-of-two enrolled and successfully completed 12 months of training to become a part-time professional firefighter. They turn out at moment's notice to respond to 999 calls in the area.
Ms Frost, 29, attended a taster day at Craven Arms Fire Station last year and hasn't looked back since.
She has now urged other women to attend a similar event at the same venue on Saturday. It comes as part of an ongoing campaign to encourage more women to become part-time professional firefighters.
Ms Frost said:"It's been an amazing 12 months from when I was accepted after passing the job-related tests to finishing the breathing apparatus course which tests you mentally and physically."
She works as an evening barmaid at the Sun Inn at Clun and is an on-call firefighter at Clun Fire Station.
Firefighters must live or work within five minutes of their local fire station, be fit and reliable, and be able to attend for duty for an agreed number of hours, said Laura Kavanagh-Jones, of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
"We will tell you what is involved in being an on-call firefighter and you can talk to women firefighters from Shropshire about their experience. We provide training, support, promotion opportunities and excellent pay and conditions."
Visitors to the taster day will tour the fire station, see how some of the equipment works, and talk to a fitness instructor about the required tests.
Six more women have become firefighters in Shropshire since the sessions were launched a few years ago and another five have applied to join.
Passing the breathing apparatus course was "one of the best things I have ever done," said Ms Frost, who praised the support she gets from more experienced firefighters at Clun.
"The adrenalin rush is amazing. You have to confront your fears and I just couldn't possibly have done this two years ago," added the former nursery nurse, who joined Slimming World, ran and swam hundreds of miles and took up weight training to realise her dream.
Saturday's event runs from 9.30am to noon. Call (01743) 260200 or visit www.shropshirefire.gov.uk
