Female TVF&R crews encouraging women to join fire service

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV) - A female force with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue is busy fighting fires and misconceptions, and they want everyone to see them, on the rig and at the station, to help encourage women to see the fire service as a career option.

When we’re young, we aspire to be what we see around us, but how can you aspire to be something you don’t see?

“Thinking back to when I was a little girl, I didn’t think this was something I could ever do,” said Jocelyn Lamoreau. “If I went back and met young me, she would be absolutely floored this became a reality, and this is the career that we chose.”

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A young Lamoreau never saw firefighting in her future, that’s why literally seeing the female force of her department is so important.

“I hope to make the young girls out there proud, when they see me on a fire engine and they think, ‘That will be me, that can be me,’” Lamoreau said. “The powerful message behind it is, here she was here I am – we did this, we made it happen.”

Elizabeth Tint and Rachel Bancroft are proud to be part of the 8% of all female firefighters in Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue.

“People say, ‘You’re a fireman, are you a fire lady?’ I just always say, ‘We’re firefighters!’” Bancroft said.

With more than 420 men in TVF&R, this squad represents three of the 38 female firefighters.

“It’s a little more rare running into another woman, and when we do work together it’s exciting, it’s fun, and I call it a unicorn day,” Lamoreau said.

That means they work, eat and live with mostly men.

“I didn’t grow up with brothers, and I actually didn’t grow up with many men in the house so I learn a lot,” said Lamoreau.

They’re also learning, they all happened to fall into this profession. The idea of firefighting just wasn’t on the radar.

“I really had to figure out everything by myself,” said Bancroft.

“I didn’t actually know this was an option for me,” Tint said.

And they know many women don’t apply because of a misconception - that women physically don’t have what it takes.

“The challenge is there for everybody, in terms of testing. There’s no difference between females and males in testing for firefighting, there’s no difference,” said Tint. “It’s a lot more cerebral of a career than one might think, it’s not just physical. You can 100% do it.”

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A smaller stature in this profession can actually come in handy in those hard to reach places. It’s not a limitation, unlike their gear, which is all designed for men.

“For safety gear, turn outs, facilities, traditionally and still is, tailored toward men, and the gear is already cumbersome enough for everyone,” Tint said.

That’s why seeing women in firefighting is vital for the next generation, so they can enter a world designed to include them.

“I love watching it, it’s so powerful. I’m hearing from men in the department about how their daughters are seeing it,” Lamoreau said. “Right now, it sounds so cheesy, but we are the future. It’s a pivotal moment.”

The fire service is so unique it’s not rare to be someone’s second or third career path. If you’re interested in the fire service, TVF&R hosts a camp every summer, some specifically for women. And if you’re interested or curious about the field, they really have an open door; you can call, ask questions, or do a ride along.

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