When Jessica O’Dell, 34, became a volunteer firefighter at the age of 18, she often had to adjust the length of her jacket sleeves or pants because the unisex protective gear was too long.
Departments welcoming women to the fire service as protective gear and attitudes evolve
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Sixteen to 18 per cent of New Brunswick firefighters, whether career or volunteer, are women, according to the New Brunswick Association of Fire Chiefs. (Honorine Ngountchoup/CBC)
When Jessica O’Dell, 34, became a volunteer firefighter at the age of 18, she often had to adjust the length of her jacket sleeves or pants because the unisex protective gear was too long.
As a member of the Hillsborough, Riverside-Albert and Alma fire departments, she estimates she responds to about 100 calls a year.
At first, O’Dell felt overwhelmed and nervous heading out to calls, especially with gear that wasn’t fitted to her frame.
“I definitely didn’t feel confident in it,” she said.
But 17 years later, O’Dell said, the way her gear fits isn’t something that crosses her mind. Protective gear, or bunker gear, is now made specifically for women.
“Most women can make do with a male set of bunker gear,” she said.
This story was brought to Nouzie by RSS. The original post can be found on https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/volunteers-firefighters-female-gear-retain-rural-fire-station-9.7412198?cmp=rss
