Education is an important factor in applying and becoming a fire fighter. Each fire department sets
a minimum requirement of education. Many locals and departments
also offer refresher courses or preparation workshops for
the exams. Offering education programs for applicants who are women
or minorities assists in preparing them to become fire fighters and in building confidence.
It may also be necessary to examine the relationship between
a recruit's education level and how they are recruited. One Canadian local found that
it was not reaching its First Nation or Native American, population.
The local realized that it was recruiting primarily at fire colleges, which
do not have a diverse pool of applicants.
One fire department in Florida assisted diverse applicants with the costs of the fire academy. Learn more about their approach here.
| One western U.S. local provides an extensive educational program to selected applicants. A member of the department can sponsor an applicant, or recommend someone to participate in the educational program. The eight-week class helps applicants brush up on math, writing and judgment skills for the entrance exam. A group within the local oversees the program, which began as assistance to Hispanics in
its community. Students pay $25 for supplies, and are asked to sponsor someone else
after they become a fire fighter. The group finds that by having hand-picked applicants and by helping them through the application process, they are able to increase minorities in
its department. |
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| One department in the
midwestern U.S. organized a residential camp for young women ages 15 to 19 to allow them to experience the life of a first responder. Camp Inferno gives
prospective female fire fighters a taste of
the work of a first responder, while
explaining the career options they have when
entering the field. The camp is intended to
increase the interest in working for the department, but also to give a learning experience in leadership, teamwork and communication. To learn more about Camp Inferno click here.
Another program, Camp Blaze, in Washington and California has also been successful at teaching young women about the fire service, while instilling confidence. Visit http://campblaze.com to learn more.
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