In a bid to introduce young women to the world of wildland firefighting and natural resource careers, the Texas A&M Forest Service organized the third annual Sisters in Fire event on September 30 at Worth Ranch in Palo Pinto, Texas, a Longhorn Council BSA property. Thirty-five participants, aged between 13 and 18, hailing from 22 Texas counties and one from Oklahoma, gathered at the event.
The Sisters in Fire program, aimed at nurturing an interest in wildland firefighting among young women, offered attendees a chance to interact with professionals from various fields associated with the industry. Emily Mitchell, Sisters in Fire Incident Commander, expressed the program's objective, emphasizing the importance of introducing these young women to potential careers in wildland firefighting and related areas.
The participants were divided into squads and rotated through four stations, each focusing on different aspects of wildland firefighting. They received hands-on experience in using fire engines, bulldozers, chainsaws, and hand tools for suppressing wildfires. Additionally, the event focused on developing essential skills such as leadership and communication crucial for wildland firefighting crews.
Emma, one of the Sisters in Fire participants, shared her enthusiasm about the event, highlighting the opportunity to meet new people and assume leadership roles as her favorite part of the day.
One of the event's highlights included a demonstration by a Fire Boss from Dauntless Air, an amphibious aircraft frequently used in Texas wildfires. The demonstration showcased the coordination required between aerial firefighting resources and ground personnel during wildfire incidents.
The participants had the chance to apply their newly acquired skills and knowledge during a prescribed fire demonstration. In this real-world scenario, they answered questions and demonstrated their understanding of the firefighting techniques they had learned.
The event aimed to address the gender disparity in the firefighting profession. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, women constitute a small percentage of career firefighters, including 5% of all career firefighters, 11% of volunteer fire service, and 12% of federal wildland firefighters. The Sisters in Fire program seeks to bridge this gap by exposing young women to diverse career opportunities related to wildland firefighting.
The Sisters in Fire event was made possible through the collaboration of several agencies, including the Texas A&M Forest Service, USDA Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System, University of Texas LBJ Wildflower Center, and the Kansas Forest Service. Ashley Samberson from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service highlighted the importance of such collaborative efforts, emphasizing mutual support among agencies for wildfire suppression and other related programs.
