Arizona organization aims to get women involved in firefighting

PHOENIX — Women in the Phoenix area who think they have what it takes to become a firefighter can attend an event this week to help them get into the industry.

The Valley Women’s Firefighter Society is hosting an informational session on Wednesday to answer any questions aspiring firefighters may have.

“If they can dream up the question, our intention is to answer it,” Phoenix Fire Battalion Chief Reda Bigler told KTAR News 92.3 FM.  “We want tell you who to call, where to go, how to sign up.”

Bigler said the group aims to provide an inclusive environment in which women can achieve their goals of becoming firefighters, promoting within their organization and serving the communities in which they work and live.

“This a male-dominated profession; being a firefighter is not for everyone,” she said.

“The benefit of our organization is that we give hands-on opportunities. There’s plenty of opportunities for networking, mentorship, learning how to train, and learning the culture.”

Even though the group has women in its name, Bigler said the event is for anyone.

“We want anyone to use our resources because we really are just a resource bank for anyone trying to pursue a career in this industry,” she said.

The Valley Women’s Firefighter Society is comprised of firefighters from across the Valley, including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Peoria, Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, Sun City and Surprise, as well as members working in private sector fire departments and emergency medical transportation.

The informational session will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Phoenix Fire Training Academy. No registration is required to attend. If you will not be able to attend, you can learn more about training and other hiring information online.

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