Nearly a dozen girls from Vernon high schools seized the chance to become a firefighter for the day on Wednesday, when Vernon Fire Rescue Services held its third annual training session that gives females interested in the profession some hands-on experience.
The day-long training session was led by Lt. Allyson Reich, who is the only female firefighter in the Vernon department香蕉视频直播檚 100-plus year history.
Reich said it would be great if any of the 11 Grade 10 students who took part in the training day went on to become firefighters, but even if none of them do, she said she香蕉视频直播檚 happy if she can light a fire under them.
香蕉视频直播淎s long as they can come away from today with the confidence to pursue whatever they香蕉视频直播檙e passionate about, that香蕉视频直播檚 really the goal of today,香蕉视频直播� Reich said.
Students Cadie Hayward and Allie Westhaver both said they were inspired to take the training because of personal experiences they香蕉视频直播檝e had in which firefighters came to the rescue.
Westhaver said she was drawn to the opportunity after seeing the White Rock Lake wildfire encroach on her neighbourhood off Westside Road in Killiney Beach in 2021.
香蕉视频直播淚 was hoping that maybe one day this could lead me into learning how to fight fire and defend my neighbourhood,香蕉视频直播� she said.
Hayward joined the firefighter training day after recalling a serious car accident she was involved in when she was young.
香蕉视频直播淭he firefighters who came out and helped us really had an effect on me and my siblings,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚 want to be there to help.香蕉视频直播�
Both students said midway through the training day that they will consider firefighting as their future career. They added that getting to use the fire hose and going 110 feet in the air on the ladder truck were highlights of the day.
Reich said there is a pressing need for firefighters, male or female, across the province, whether it香蕉视频直播檚 for the BC Wildfire Service, or municipal or rural firefighting.
According to Reich, there is ample opportunity for women to become firefighters, but it香蕉视频直播檚 not often that young women see themselves in the field because there are so few female firefighters like herself to look up to.
香蕉视频直播淵ou can香蕉视频直播檛 be what you can香蕉视频直播檛 see,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚f people don香蕉视频直播檛 know that there香蕉视频直播檚 a female in the fire service, typically little girls wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 think that they could do that.香蕉视频直播�
Reich said she香蕉视频直播檚 glad to be able to represent women in the field and serve as an inspiration for girls to enter a male-dominated profession.
香蕉视频直播淵ou can have male nurses, you can have male teachers, you can have female firefighters, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter. You香蕉视频直播檝e just got to have the right heart for the job.香蕉视频直播�
Reich has been with the Vernon fire department for 19 years, but this time next year she香蕉视频直播檒l be retired from the profession. However, she香蕉视频直播檚 heartened by the fact that another woman is being hired, who will take up the mantle of Vernon香蕉视频直播檚 only female firefighter.
After hanging up her firefighting helmet, Reich won香蕉视频直播檛 be sitting idly. She香蕉视频直播檚 currently completing a masters degree in counselling psychology to become a counsellor, with a focus on helping firefighters and other emergency responders overcome occupational stress and PTSD.
香蕉视频直播淚 think there香蕉视频直播檚 something to be said for lived experience,香蕉视频直播� she said, reflecting on how her experience as a firefighter will help her in her next career pursuit.
香蕉视频直播淓mergency responders are the ones that want to help you on your worst day, and it香蕉视频直播檚 really hard for them to sometimes have to ask for help. To be able to have that lived experience and be able to offer them that support and walk alongside them in their time of need is something that I know will be immensely rewarding.香蕉视频直播�
Reich said even though she香蕉视频直播檚 retiring, she香蕉视频直播檒l continue to come back to the station and hold more female firefighter training days.
香蕉视频直播淎s long as they香蕉视频直播檒l have me, I香蕉视频直播檒l keep coming back year after year to help out to do this,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is just the beginning.香蕉视频直播�
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