According to govtech.com, a Girls Fire Camp in Pittsburgh has sparked hope of Firefighting Careers for women of the future. On last Monday, the first day of the city’s first ever Girls Fire Camp got started, with an aim to help teenage girls learn about firefighting and get interested in a firefighting career with the city’s bureau. With over 700 firefighters with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, only four of those firefighters are women. Lisa Epps-Cuda who is running the camp is quoted in saying, “Firefighters engage with the community, so getting people from different backgrounds, genders and perspectives enhances our department’s ability to better serve our community,” She also added, “The curriculum of the girls camp is designed to challenge, but to build confidence and courage.” By the end of the week, the girls accomplished a lot including, being certified in CPR and Stop the Bleed techniques, as well as, going through several firefighter physical training sessions throughout the week. A portion of the week took place at the Fire Academy at Washington Boulevard, where the girls did common drills such as carrying a dummy and practicing forcible entry techniques. At the end of the week, the girls graduated from the fire camp with their families getting to watch them go through an obstacle course at the Fire Academy, in proper gear. On top of that, most of the girl at the camp will be old enough to apply for a firefighter position in Pittsburgh in the next few years. Meanwhile, Ms. Epps-Cuda expressed that the city is hoping to keep hosting these camps in order to promote the growth of women in the career.
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