How to be a firefighter
How I did it: I started out as a dispatcher. One day I was invited to ride the truck to experience what it was like on the other side of the radio. The adrenaline rush was outstanding!
Soon afterward, I joined the volunteer fire department in my community. I took training every week and eventually attended the fire academy. THE IFSTA class was 200 hours and I was one of only 10 females in the county in the class. After the basic training, I took additional classes on Inspections and Arson Investigation, Hazardous Materials, and Hydraulics. I learned many things that oddly enough still serve me well, 30 years later.

