B.C. firefighting camp aims to get more women into fire service careers

August 30, 2021

Women currently make up about four per cent of the fire service in Canada. But a Vancouver-based camp for aspiring female firefighters is trying to change that.

Camp Ignite started in 2011 with a small group of firefighters in Greater Vancouver hoping to get more young women interested in the profession.

Now in its 11th year, Camp Ignite hosted 34 participants, its largest cohort, yet last weekend.

The program consists of several stations that campers rotate through over the two day event. Putting out car fires, smashing glass and extricating oneself from tangled wires are just a few of the skills that participants practised.

City of Vancouver Fire Chief Karen Fry said Camp Ignite is designed to challenge the girls and build confidence.

“Anybody can do this job. It’s not just predominantly made for men. Women bring a lot of skills and they just need an opportunity to see other women doing that job and to realize inside themselves that they can do it as well,” said Fry.

Source: CBC News