Debunking myths about women firefighters

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — There was a time when there were no female firefighters, but now, there are 14 women in the Lexington Fire Department who are not just overcoming stereotypes, they’re also having huge success in the department.

“We want to have a representation of the fire department that is representative of our community,” says six-year department veteran Jessica Bowman. Bowman has driven and riden the truck, served as an emergency medical technician and is a part of a team that helped install 2,000 smoke alarms since July. Bowman says those numbers rank second in the nation.

Bowman and the other public information officers recently received the Fire Chief’s Commendation Award. “We were acknowledged for the efforts we have made for raising the bar in community services,” says Bowman.

Another woman in the department is Lieutenant Cathi Duerson, who has been with LFD for 17 years, and manages several men at station nine. “To be lucky enough to be a female on a rescue engine is gratifying in itself. It’s the best job in the world,” says Duerson.

Before Duerson was with LFD she was a volunteer firefighter in Florence for four years. “It was my senior year in high school. Our local department needed volunteers and I figured, why not?,” says Duerson. She says she found out she wanted to be a firefighter years ago when she was passing an accident and the victims needed CPR. “I never wanted to be in a situation where I couldn’t help people.”

Both Duerson and Bowman say there are no differences in the standards set for men and women in the fire department. However, both women have been questioned about their roles. “Some of them have a hard time fathoming that we are on a fire truck,” says Duerson.

Duerson says women also do not have special facilities. “Sleeping quarters, we all sleep in one big bunk room. There are private showers,” says Duerson.

Women do not do all the cooking, according to Bowman.

Their biggest message is, fires don’t discriminate. “If you look at us on scene, you can’t tell if it’s a male or female in our gear,” says Duerson. “In the fire’s eyes, it’s going to consume whatever it can. We have to put it out. Whoever has the nozzle has to do it. It’s if you can perform when you’re asked to perform.”

Fourteen out of 560 firefighters in the Lexington Fire Department are women, according to its public information office. That’s about 2.5% of the total force, which is slightly above the national average of 2%, according to Bowman.