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Can women be firefighters?
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By *hagTonight OP Man 4 days ago
From the land of haribos. |
Have you also seen the video that have gone viral of what the chief of los angeles fire department of diversity kristina larson said?
The chiefs speech comes after the fires in los angeles where the chief said that women arent strong enough to carry a man out of a burning building.
I think that of course they can be firefighters and do the same job. I was also looking into some numbers to see how many of them were women, in he usa only 6% and in the uk it was a bit more with 8%, the survey concluded that out of all people working as firefighters today, less than 10 percent are women and it looks the same all around the globe.
What is your view about it and why arent there more women that are it, could it be because it is more of a male oriented job too?  |
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Well, I’m no science denier I think a lot would probably find it really difficult to carry a man out of a burning building - and probably fewer numbers of men would also struggle.
This is why gender should be nothing to do with whether you pass the test to be a firefighter that has that task,
But I’m sure there are a lot of jobs in firefighting, but don’t require you to carry a person, and they should use positive discrimination to make sure all genders are represented in those roles |
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I wonder how often a single firefighter has to _actually_ carry an individual out of a burning building? I also wonder, given society’s becoming increasingly obese, how many people are too heavy to be carried out by anyone - man or women?
If the answer to the first question is not often and the second one quite a few then I think the sex of the firefighter is probably irrelevant.
I will also note that one of the strongest people in my gym is a female firefighter - I am fairly sure she could get me out of a burning building and I am not light. |
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"Have you also seen the video that have gone viral of what the chief of los angeles fire department of diversity kristina larson said?
The chiefs speech comes after the fires in los angeles where the chief said that women arent strong enough to carry a man out of a burning building.
I think that of course they can be firefighters and do the same job. I was also looking into some numbers to see how many of them were women, in he usa only 6% and in the uk it was a bit more with 8%, the survey concluded that out of all people working as firefighters today, less than 10 percent are women and it looks the same all around the globe.
What is your view about it and why arent there more women that are it, could it be because it is more of a male oriented job too? "
I don’t think the chief said this did she, wasn’t it a right ex-Fox presenter saying all women want to be rescued by muscular men not obese lesbians |
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The Op is confusing, there are two elements put together and one is wrong in how you've said it Shag..
The carry out comment was made by a fox news contributor based upon a picture of three senior women in the organisation (for the record, heads of departments and chief officers are extremely unlikely if ever to have to carry out a rescue of anyone)..
From the reports no rescues were needed in the latest (still ongoing) fires in LA so it's just an excuse by someone the right to stir up 'outrage' with their base using the loss of peoples lives and homes as an excuse..
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"The Op is confusing, there are two elements put together and one is wrong in how you've said it Shag..
The carry out comment was made by a fox news contributor based upon a picture of three senior women in the organisation (for the record, heads of departments and chief officers are extremely unlikely if ever to have to carry out a rescue of anyone)..
From the reports no rescues were needed in the latest (still ongoing) fires in LA so it's just an excuse by someone the right to stir up 'outrage' with their base using the loss of peoples lives and homes as an excuse..
"
Totally agree.
But the question is still a very valid one in 2025 with our cultural development of gender it’s not something we want to avoid asking or debating through fear is it?
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By *hagTonight OP Man 4 days ago
From the land of haribos. |
"Well, I’m no science denier I think a lot would probably find it really difficult to carry a man out of a burning building - and probably fewer numbers of men would also struggle.
This is why gender should be nothing to do with whether you pass the test to be a firefighter that has that task,
But I’m sure there are a lot of jobs in firefighting, but don’t require you to carry a person, and they should use positive discrimination to make sure all genders are represented in those roles"
Yes, a lot would find it difficult to do that too |
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If the general criteria is you need to be strong enough to carry a man out of a building, after taking a look around I think all firefighters are going to have to come from the final of worlds strongest man |
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By *hagTonight OP Man 4 days ago
From the land of haribos. |
"I wonder how often a single firefighter has to _actually_ carry an individual out of a burning building? I also wonder, given society’s becoming increasingly obese, how many people are too heavy to be carried out by anyone - man or women?
If the answer to the first question is not often and the second one quite a few then I think the sex of the firefighter is probably irrelevant.
I will also note that one of the strongest people in my gym is a female firefighter - I am fairly sure she could get me out of a burning building and I am not light."
Yes. I also wonder that, it must be difficult for anyone too |
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"The Op is confusing, there are two elements put together and one is wrong in how you've said it Shag..
The carry out comment was made by a fox news contributor based upon a picture of three senior women in the organisation (for the record, heads of departments and chief officers are extremely unlikely if ever to have to carry out a rescue of anyone)..
From the reports no rescues were needed in the latest (still ongoing) fires in LA so it's just an excuse by someone the right to stir up 'outrage' with their base using the loss of peoples lives and homes as an excuse..
Totally agree.
But the question is still a very valid one in 2025 with our cultural development of gender it’s not something we want to avoid asking or debating through fear is it?
"
Absolutely not, the same tired old clichés still pop up and will in all likelihood be a mirror of the ones I witnessed sat around the mess table 35 years ago.. |
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"But the question is still a very valid one in 2025 with our cultural development of gender it’s not something we want to avoid asking or debating through fear is it?
"
The fitness test for the London Fire Brigade is freely available to read online and there aren't many (any?) reports of women being unable to carry out their duties as firefighters.
With that knowledge in hand, what's left to debate? |
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People tend to be helped or dragged out of buildings. Very few people are carried out. In the event that someone is carried out then the techniques used makes it easier to carry dead weights. When a person enters a building on fire it is simultaneously being damped down from the outside. Finally, a firefighter does not go into a burning building alone. |
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I think many women are put off from becoming firefighters due to the culture if misogyny within the fire service.
This effectively keeps numbers of women in the service low.
If my house is on fire or I need to be cut out of my car I don't give two brass farthings who is on the other end of the hose or cutter. |
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"I think many women are put off from becoming firefighters due to the culture if misogyny within the fire service.
"
Is there? If there is, I don’t think it’s generally well known and the main reason for the massive gender imbalance.
No doubt it plays a small part but the main reason is simply conditioning right since we are born we are told what boys should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to and what girls should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to. Actually, it happens even before we are born when the baby’s room is painted either blue or pink and the clothes are being chosen. |
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"I think many women are put off from becoming firefighters due to the culture if misogyny within the fire service.
Is there? If there is, I don’t think it’s generally well known and the main reason for the massive gender imbalance.
No doubt it plays a small part but the main reason is simply conditioning right since we are born we are told what boys should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to and what girls should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to. Actually, it happens even before we are born when the baby’s room is painted either blue or pink and the clothes are being chosen."
It is fairly well known due to several quite public cases last year. |
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I really wouldn’t care who carried me out of a burning building, as long as they could. In any profession if someone qualifies and passes all the tests then they should be allowed to sign up for the job. What we have to avoid is giving people jobs just to balance the gender numbers (or any other statistic in that respect). |
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"I think many women are put off from becoming firefighters due to the culture if misogyny within the fire service.
Is there? If there is, I don’t think it’s generally well known and the main reason for the massive gender imbalance.
No doubt it plays a small part but the main reason is simply conditioning right since we are born we are told what boys should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to and what girls should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to. Actually, it happens even before we are born when the baby’s room is painted either blue or pink and the clothes are being chosen.
It is fairly well known due to several quite public cases last year. "
I don’t think kids when they are deciding their future careers pay much attention to public investigations of this nature. The choices they make are usually made well before they’re taking an interest in the boring old news.
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Part of my job until about 6 months ago was visiting fire stations and I have witnessed many many TEAMS training I don't think I saw a female firefighter who I thought wouldn't be able to carry out their duties, they train pretty much daily for every conceivable possibility and the important thing to remember is they work as a Team, they tend not to enter buildings alone in fact I would imagine it's a a no no.
But they train with mannequins that are very much like a un conscious person a dead weight and I think even the fittest guy in full BA and kit would struggle to lift a fully grown man and carry him out, it's probable that they can and do but it's always going to be a struggle it's not like the movies.
They train for hours and hours on various pieces of equipment designed to make their jobs easy .
Like everything occasionally just a bit of brute force is required, but at over 100kgs I'd like to see someone lift me up and carry me down flights of stairs in a smoke filled building and I survive to tell the tale, chances are it's already too late. |
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By *hagTonight OP Man 4 days ago
From the land of haribos. |
"The people who can safely run into a burning building and save the people inside should be firefighters.
I don’t think it matters much what’s in their pants, as long as they can get the job done. "
Hi theshivs, yes, you are right there, as long as they can get the job done, is what matters the most too |
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"Have you also seen the video that have gone viral of what the chief of los angeles fire department of diversity kristina larson said?
The chiefs speech comes after the fires in los angeles where the chief said that women arent strong enough to carry a man out of a burning building.
I think that of course they can be firefighters and do the same job. I was also looking into some numbers to see how many of them were women, in he usa only 6% and in the uk it was a bit more with 8%, the survey concluded that out of all people working as firefighters today, less than 10 percent are women and it looks the same all around the globe.
What is your view about it and why arent there more women that are it, could it be because it is more of a male oriented job too? "
Fuck yeah |
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"Part of my job until about 6 months ago was visiting fire stations and I have witnessed many many TEAMS training I don't think I saw a female firefighter who I thought wouldn't be able to carry out their duties, they train pretty much daily for every conceivable possibility and the important thing to remember is they work as a Team, they tend not to enter buildings alone in fact I would imagine it's a a no no.
But they train with mannequins that are very much like a un conscious person a dead weight and I think even the fittest guy in full BA and kit would struggle to lift a fully grown man and carry him out, it's probable that they can and do but it's always going to be a struggle it's not like the movies.
They train for hours and hours on various pieces of equipment designed to make their jobs easy .
Like everything occasionally just a bit of brute force is required, but at over 100kgs I'd like to see someone lift me up and carry me down flights of stairs in a smoke filled building and I survive to tell the tale, chances are it's already too late."
First hand evidence is always the best |
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The U.K. fire service is a very male dominated environment and any woman that enters will have to prove their ability more than a male.
I know a female fire fighter that is more capable physically than most guys and carrying an adult is more technique than strength.
There are tests to ensure all fire fighters are of a standard.
Good luck to them all |
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I know a woman who a few years ago was the only woman in Ireland with a particular qualification that allowed her to be involved in collapsed structure operations.
She wasn't a firefighter but it's not all about carrying people out of burning buildings.
I have trained with some of their special operations teams and have only met one woman on any of those training days but nothing on those days required muscle or bulk and could easily have be carried out by a woman regardless of size or strength. |
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By *inaTitzTV/TS 4 days ago
Titz Towers, North Notts |
It sounds like a problem that will only come up rarely.
How often does anyone have to carry someone out of a burning building on their own?
I'd struggle if the person weighed over a certain amount, as would many folk.  |
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They can, but the issue with DEI appointments is when the entry standard is reduced to allow them to join. I don’t see any reason to exclude any demographic from entry provided that they meet the standards. |
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By *hagTonight OP Man 4 days ago
From the land of haribos. |
"I think many women are put off from becoming firefighters due to the culture if misogyny within the fire service.
This effectively keeps numbers of women in the service low.
If my house is on fire or I need to be cut out of my car I don't give two brass farthings who is on the other end of the hose or cutter. "
Hi nicecouple, yes, you are right there. I also think it is due to the misogyny within the fire service, yes, it doesnt matter who will save you |
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I find it funny that the only stat these people use is lifting another person.
I know plenty of men who would struggle with that. The training includes all that stuff. So if they pass, they're as good as the men. Maybe men are still stronger but doesn't mean women also aren't strong.
Who do you think they propel down a rope? Women. Who do you think the send in to squeeze into tight spaces women. So should men not be fire fighters cos they're not small enough.
The world needs to grow up and learn that diversity isn't a bad thing.
As a woman in a heavy engineering industry I find this infuriating cos I've heard it all before. 20 years I've been hearing it. |
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By *ion44Man 4 days ago
scunthorpe |
Women make excellent firefighters, I've worked with a few and they are just as good as the blokes beside them. Trust me when your a team of 2 going g into a building you trust your oppo with your life. |
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1) they have to want to do the job. I can't think of it being high on list of career choices of many.
2) they have to pass the very stringent physical tests.
I have no problems with anyone doing any jobs they choose. Firefighting is very mental and physically changing job. All for very little in return. That's not to mention getting attacked and having to deal with dickheads. |
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Physical Tests
The National Firefighter Physical Tests form part of the selection process, you will be required to undertake physical tests which aim to assess your level of fitness, strength and manual dexterity as well as your level of confidence in simulated exercises.
The following tests are designed to reflect operational practice and may change from time to time. Candidates will be asked to complete a Medical Screening Form prior to undertaking many of these tests, this is to ensure that individuals are fit enough to undertake them.
The 6 National Firefighter Physical Tests
Ladder Climb
Casualty Evacuation
Ladder Lift / Lower Simulation
Enclosed Spaces
Equipment Assembly
Equipment Carry
Ladder Climb
This is a test of confidence whilst working at height. Candidates must demonstrate the correct ‘leg lock’ at ground level before commencing the test. Wearing full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including a harness, candidates must ascend a fully extended 13.5 metre ladder to approximately second storey height and demonstrate a ‘leg lock’.
The candidate will then be required to lean back with arms outstretched and describe a symbol shown on the floor. The candidate will then descend.
Casualty Evacuation
This is a test of lower and upper body strength. Candidates in full PPE will be required to drag a 55kg casualty walking backwards (guided by an assessor) around a 30-metre course.
Ladder Lift / Lower Simulation
Again, this is a test of upper and lower body strength. Candidates in full PPE will be required to raise a bar 75 cm off the ground to a height of 182cm and back down to the 75 cm support. The weight of the bar at the lifting point will start at 5kg. The maximum load to be added is 15kg.
Enclosed Space
This is a test of confidence, agility and possible claustrophobia whilst working in an enclosed space. Candidates in full PPE and wearing a Breathing Apparatus facemask will be required to negotiate a measured crawlway within a set time. Half the route will be with clear vision and the other half with obscured vision. You will be required to perform specific tasks during this test.
Equipment Assembly
This is a test of manual dexterity. Candidates will be required to assemble and disassemble an item of equipment and follow the colour coded diagrams provided.
Equipment Carry
This is a test of aerobic fitness, muscular strength and stamina. Candidates will be required to:
Drag a hose reel from an appliance for 25 metres, then jog back 25 metres
Pick up and carry 2 coiled 70 mm hoses for 100 metres
Carry 1 coiled 70 mm hose at chest height for 25 metres, and then jog back 75 metres
Pick up and carry a 2.4 metre suction hose and basket strainer for 100 metres, then jog back 100 metres
Pick up and carry a simulated ‘Light Portable Pump’ for 100 metres (weighing approximately 30kgs).
In each of the above tests you will be given full instructions and will be required to complete them within a specified time.
Important Note: Many fire and rescue services have changed the physical tests over the past few years and there now appears to be no set standard. Although at the time of writing this article, many have returned to the original tests as detailed above. Its also worthy to note that many fire and rescue services now carry out “Taster Days” which allow you to go along and have a go at some of the above tests. Some fire and rescue services have actually only recruited from those who have attended, so worth getting yourself booked on one if offered. |
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By *hagTonight OP Man 3 days ago
From the land of haribos. |
"The U.K. fire service is a very male dominated environment and any woman that enters will have to prove their ability more than a male.
I know a female fire fighter that is more capable physically than most guys and carrying an adult is more technique than strength.
There are tests to ensure all fire fighters are of a standard.
Good luck to them all "
Hi _aintsnsinners, yes, there are tests to ensure all fire fighters are of a standard too |
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By *hagTonight OP Man 3 days ago
From the land of haribos. |
"I really wouldn’t care who carried me out of a burning building, as long as they could. In any profession if someone qualifies and passes all the tests then they should be allowed to sign up for the job. What we have to avoid is giving people jobs just to balance the gender numbers (or any other statistic in that respect). "
Yes, it doesnt matter who does it, as long as they could do it |
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It's probably been raised in profile, as a potential issue, due to the Trump suspension of diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programmes. He's been swamping the systems, in the first days there.
Certainly, women should be firefighters and can and do well in the role. Prevention is better than trying to cure a problem, so ideally you'll not get someone like Trump, trying to bring people against themselves as well as investing in better management of building, in a climate increasingly likely to higher fire risks, etc |
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"I think many women are put off from becoming firefighters due to the culture if misogyny within the fire service.
Is there? If there is, I don’t think it’s generally well known and the main reason for the massive gender imbalance.
No doubt it plays a small part but the main reason is simply conditioning right since we are born we are told what boys should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to and what girls should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to. Actually, it happens even before we are born when the baby’s room is painted either blue or pink and the clothes are being chosen."
Both things are true, and both are things society needs to address because they continue to be harmful. |
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"I think many women are put off from becoming firefighters due to the culture if misogyny within the fire service.
Is there? If there is, I don’t think it’s generally well known and the main reason for the massive gender imbalance.
No doubt it plays a small part but the main reason is simply conditioning right since we are born we are told what boys should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to and what girls should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to. Actually, it happens even before we are born when the baby’s room is painted either blue or pink and the clothes are being chosen.
Both things are true, and both are things society needs to address because they continue to be harmful."
Harmful??.. Oh behave 😂
Mr F. |
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"I think many women are put off from becoming firefighters due to the culture if misogyny within the fire service.
Is there? If there is, I don’t think it’s generally well known and the main reason for the massive gender imbalance.
No doubt it plays a small part but the main reason is simply conditioning right since we are born we are told what boys should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to and what girls should do / wear / feel / think / aspire to. Actually, it happens even before we are born when the baby’s room is painted either blue or pink and the clothes are being chosen.
Both things are true, and both are things society needs to address because they continue to be harmful.
Harmful??.. Oh behave 😂
Mr F. "
🤣 |
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"Some women if they became firefighters are more likely to throw men onto the fire, rather than carrying them out. "
Yes that's exactly what the female firefighters do. It's to get the British Crown back for all the medieval witch burnings. The Pendle witches have taken their revenge! |
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