Drive to recruit more women firefighters in Shropshire
A drive to get more Shropshire women to become firefighters has continued with a taster session at a county fire station.
Ten women toured Market Drayton fire station on Saturday to hear about firefighting as a career choice.
Shropshire currently has 429 wholetime and on call firefighters, including 24 women, working from 23 fire stations.
In recent months Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has held events to try and persuade women to consider becoming a firefighter.
At the Market Drayton event they were shown around fire engines, tried on fire kit for size, and put on breathing apparatus under instruction from the station's crew.
They were also able to talk to firefighters, learn about the recruitment process, and look at equipment.
With just six per cent of female firefighters, the service wants to encourage more to join.
One of the participants hospital porter Becca Peace-Winn, 25, a karate green belt, of Maesbury Marsh, near Oswestry, said she intended to put in an application.
She said: “This is something I’ve always been interested in. It’s exciting.”
Sales co-ordinator Laura Crew, of Hollinswood, Telford, who is a boxing coach, said she came along to the taster day because she wanted to do something for the community.
Rachel Thomas, from Morda, near Oswestry, was encouraged to attend the taster day by a firefighter she met on the next treadmill at the gym.
She added: “To help people and be part of such a team and give something back is just inspiring. I really want to do it.”
And property manager Camilla Edwards, 24, who works across the road from the fire station, said she intended to work on her fitness in the gym.
She said: “I want to do something that feels important and to help people in their real time of need.”
Watch Manager Mark Smith said anyone who is interested should visit their local fire station during the weekly drill session where they would be welcomed.
He added: “It is hard work to get in the fire service and you have to maintain your fitness but it is a very rewarding job where you save lives and we want more women to join.”
Fitness instructor and sports centre manager Sarah Cartwright, 42, is one of 17 firefighters at Market Drayton. Two of them women.
“I work with a great team and I really enjoy it,” said Sarah, who has been to house fires, helped to rescue people in road collisions and save animals in distress, including a cow trapped in a slurry pit.
She also works to educate the public on fire safety.
For more information call 01743 260441 or visit the careers section at www.shropshirefire.gov.uk
