service has been growing for many years. I believe the Live it!: What initial and ongoing training is required? desire to serve their community is boosting this forward Frank: The initial training to become a firefighter for movement. Also the current female firefighters are showthe city of Willmar needs to be fully completed within ing other women that they can do it also, they just need to the first two years. During your first year on the departtake that first step in applying. ment, you must complete Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2 and Hazardous Material Operations training and become Live it!: How has the Willmar Fire Department been state-certified in all three areas. This is about a total of affected by having female firefighters on the team? 140 hours of training and takes about four months to comFrank: We have had female firefighters on and off since plete. This training is usually conducted through Ridgewathe late ’80s. It has come to be a normal thing for the Willter College Customized Training. mar Fire Department. Then once those are complete, the new firefighter must There have been no issues of the female firefighters complete 48 hours of Emergency Medical Responder being accepted by the male firefighters on the Willmar training. This must be done prior to the end of the second Fire Department. We are all one big family year of employment. and everyone is treated as such. SomeBut the training does not stop there. All “Every second of times I see other females that are in need Willmar firefighters train two to three this job is of help relating better to female firefightnights a month. This is above and beyond ers than to male firefighters. the basic training required. challenging one I feel the female firefighters fit in just way or another. as well as the male firefighters. They do Live it!: What are the typical physical I think that’s one equal tasks and help each other out if one and mental requirements needed to be cannot complete a task on their own. an effective firefighter? of the reasons I Frank: I think a firefighter needs to be love this job, the Live it!: What would you like the pubboth physically fit and mentally fit. other being able lic to know about the role the women Firefighters are always working hard, play in the department? no matter what role you are assuming at to serve the Frank: I think the role of women in fire training or a fire scene. Being physically community and its service is huge. There are many female fit is essential. The number one cause of citizens.” fire chiefs today. Everyone is a firefighter, line-of-duty deaths in firefighters is heart not a female firefighter or a male firefightattacks. er, but a firefighter. The community and fellow firefighters rely on the fireIf you think you’re interested, please seek information fighter’s ability to complete a job, anywhere from rescuabout it. Do not let the fact of you being a female discouring people from different emergencies to assisting others age you in anyway. Work hard and believe and you will with cleanup. make a good firefighter. There are many times where the mental aspect of the If you are not old enough to be a firefighter (18 years job is forgotten. This is just as important as anything else. old) and are interested, please try our fire explorer proIf a firefighter is not mentally prepared, it could cost them gram. their life. Firefighters see many bad things that can affect them both professionally and personally. Live it!: Why should someone become a volunteer firefighter? Live it!:There is a growing trend for women to serve Frank: To help others and your community. It can be on Greater Minnesota fire departments. Why is this time-consuming, but very rewarding! It must be somehappening? thing you love. Frank: I think the trend of women joining the fire
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