In order to help encourage young women to become first responders, the Lexington Fires Department hosted a free camp for young women, with the aim to empower women throughout the industry. The camp helps encourage women to join the profession and is to honor Brenda Cowan who was shot in the line of duty in 2004. The camp is for girls ages 16-25 giving a chance to a variety of different women.
One attendee Alezondra Knight stated that, “When I was little, I was like oh only men can be firefighters but I’ve learned that women can do it, It makes me motivated even more because I have to prove myself before I really want to do it.” Knight was one of 25 girls who attended the Brenda Cowan Fire Camp in Lexington. Marking the fifth year in a row that the Lexington Fire Department held this camp in Brenda Cowan’s honor.
Captain Maquel Johnson said Cowan was the first for many women in the industry stating, “First African American female in the Lexington fire department, first African American female to get promoted to lieutenant in Lexington, sadly, tragically, first African American female that was killed in line of duty in the United States, It’s not to say that it’s a brotherhood, because all the females are in the brotherhood with us. We’re one big family, so I think that’s what makes our career different,”
Johnson added, “So this camp is good for young females to see that yes, it’s a male dominated career, but as females, especially young females, you have opportunities for other females to point you in the right direction,”
Many of the girls who attended hope to one day work alongside these first responders, and hope to encourage a whole other generation of females to take interest in the industry.
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