Ember Academy to train even more female firefighters in Yukon

A group of would-beYukon firefighters are pulling weights, climbing laddersand crawling blindfolded through smoky buildings.

Just don't call them "firemen."

The Ember Academy training camp is a Yukon government initiative run by thefire marshal's office and Protective Services. It's also strictly for women.

Carla Penman has been a firefighter for 18 years.

On Tuesday, she guided recruits through drills, which included hooking up a hose to a fire hydrant, driving a fire truck, and extinguishing fires.Trainees also climbed the truck's ladder a dizzying 30 metres above the concrete.

"They're getting a taste of everything we do," she said."They'll find out if theyhave a fear of heights."

Penman saidfirefighting is hard work, but worth the commitment.

"I think that women don't even know that this is an option forthem," she said."This job takes all kinds, and women have so much to offer," she said.

'They're women and they're moms'

AmyGreeris one of the new trainees. She describedherself as a former English teacher looking for something new."I've been a stay-at-home mom for the last five years. I have three little kids, and it's agreat opportunityfor the future," she said.

"I think it's a challenge justputting the suit on, it's about [18 kilograms]. Yesterday, we did a run with the tanks on, the face masks and the oxygen. We've been climbing the ladders. When you take this off you're just covered in sweat," she saidwith a laugh.

This year Ember Academy has 12 students.They're paired with 12 instructors, who are all women.

"It's superinspirational," Greersaid."They're careerfirefighters, they're women andthey're moms."

Anna Rivard is another trainee who says she's moving to Alberta, where she would like to pursue firefighting. According to Rivard, one especially tough part of the week has been blindfolded teamwork.

"We were trying to find someone in distress in a building. We were blindfolded and we used heatsensing cameras to find our waythrough a building. Workingtogether and figuring out whereyou werewithout seeing," she said.

'We can do a better job'

James Paterson, the territory's Deputy FireMarshal, says 23 per centof the territory's firefighting force are women.

"We believe that's one the highest rates in Canada," said Paterson."But the Fire Marshal and I believe we can do a better job and have a (more) integrated service."

Paterson says Ember Academy has been trying to recruit athletes.

"Make no mistake about it:firefighting is a fight. It is a physical job,but absolutely women are very capable. Infact, to do this job better, weneed more women in the fire service," he said."Typically they're smaller, and they may be more agile. We have a lot of confined-space operations.

"Sometimes a smaller-stature person is better-suited for the job."

This is the second year the Yukon government has offeredEmber Academy as a free week-long camp.

The course does not provide a degree, but Paterson says it's intended to interest women in firefightingeither as volunteers or career firefighters.