Cedar Rapids Fire Department offers academy for young women

CEDAR RAPIDS - Exposure to the firefighting field for women, by women.

That is the aim of a four-day camp hosted by the Cedar Rapids Fire Department to provide young women, ages 15 to 19, an opportunity to see and experience firefighting as a career option.

The idea for the first-ever 'Fully Involved: Young Women's Fire Academy” came as the result of a push by the city to diversify some of its different careers, including firefighting, said Nicky Stansell, public education program manager. The idea blossomed.

'Firefighting has been one those careers we were trying to diversify a little more, and we're lucky to have five female firefighters, but percentage wise ... it's mostly males,” Stansell said of the fire department force.

Those five female firefighters - EMS Program Director Amy Kunkle, Capt. Cheme Fairlie, firefighter paramedic Julie Popelka and firefighters Janeen Justice and Megan Wichmann - developed a curriculum that aims to teach participants what it takes to become a firefighter, including information on hose line handling, the physical qualification test, search and rescue techniques, fire extinguisher training, personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus.

Participants also will be trained in CPR and guest speakers will speak to participants during the lunch hours.

The academy runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, July 31, through Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, 713 First Ave. SE.

Cost to attend is $30 per person.

'We want them to have a hands-on (experience),” said Popelka. 'I know if I would have been 15 to 19 and gotten to do something like this, I would have started my career in fire service a whole lot sooner.”

Stansell said 13 girls have signed up for the course.

'We're trying to get 15 the first year and see if it's manageable or not,” she added.

'One of the reasons we're doing this is, obviously, it's been mostly a male-dominated career, and a lot of (women) might be scared to try it just because they don't know what it's like,” Kunkle said, adding the academy will provide a comfortable environment where participants don't feel intimidated.

'We want to show all aspects of the fire service,” Fairlie said. 'Not just firefighting, but public education ... and that there's more to the fire service than what people perceive.”

For firefighters like Wichmann, who has been with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department for three years, she couldn't imagine doing anything else.

'My folks always said, you need a skill. ... I knew I didn't want an office job. I grew up on a farm and I wanted something that challenged me every day, something with different dynamics,” she said. 'This just fit.”

To request an application for the academy, go to cedar-rapids.org and click on 'Local Government,” 'Departments A-F” and 'Fire.” Once there, scroll down to information about the academy.

l Comments: (319) 368-8531; alexandra.connor@thegazette.com

If You Go

What: Fully Involved: Young Women's Fire Academy

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, July 31, through Thursday, Aug. 3.

Where: Cedar Rapids Fire Department, 713 First Ave. SE.

Who: Young women ages 15-19.

Details: Participants will become certified in CPR and learn about what it takes to become a firefighter, including information on hose line handling, the physical qualification test, search and rescue techniques, fire extinguisher training. personal protective equipment and self-contained breathing apparatus.

Cost: $30

Register: Request an application at cedar-rapids.org. Once there, click 'Local Government,” 'Departments A-F” and 'Fire” and then scroll down to find information on the academy.