LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville's Fire Department is actively recruiting more women to join their ranks, aiming to increase diversity and representation within the firefighting profession.

Female firefighters are few and far between in the Louisville Fire Department. In fact, about 31 have come through the fire academy in about 40 years.

Females on LFD

Photo credit: Kyle Shepherd

"It's very physically demanding job. It's hard work," Engine 12 Fire Captain Tamara Stewart said. "The gear is heavy, the days are long, yet we don't know what we're facing."

Stewart joined the Louisville Fire Department in 2013.

"I actually tried out in 2011 and I didn't get hired the first time," Stewart said.

The then-music teacher, didn't give up. She became a volunteer firefighter, earned her EMT certification, and dedicated herself to training.

"When I didn't get hired the first time, it just it almost made me mad, and it gave me the motivation to do what I needed to do to get stronger, faster," Stewart said.

The now 47-year-old wants other women to follow in her footsteps.

"There's a lot of women that aren't attracted to this line of work, perhaps we want to change that narrative," Stewart said. "I still get to teach within the fire service. It's just different content now."

Out of 429 Louisville firefighters, only 14 of them are females.

"Growing up in a suburb of Dallas, Texas in the 1980s, I don't remember seeing female firefighters. Not to say that there weren't any, I just don't remember seeing any," Stewart said. "I never thought about it as a career for myself until I met other female firefighters. They said, you should try out. You should try out."

Because she tried out, she was able to help save a man, who had gotten trapped under rubble for more than 9 hours.

"Everybody did their job, and we made it happen," Stewart said. "I didn't have a very glorious role by any way, shape or form and really, but to hear him speaking with one of the other captains, that's that was a good feeling."

Milagros Ibiaquez also helped rescue the man. Both helped deliver equipment.

"It's not, you know, like the position where you're in the hole, but it's a job that has to get done," Ibiaquez said.

She joined the department about four years ago and has never looked back.

"I met somebody named Sean McAdam. He used to be a firefighter for Louisville, too. He passed away on duty. He was pretty inspiring to me. I thought I couldn't do the job, and I brought it up to him. He's like, 'just try. It never hurts, but try.' So, here I am now," Ibiaquez said. "I love the job. It doesn't feel any different that I'm a female. You do have to work a little bit harder than the guys, but I love the job every day."

Whether it's a medical run, a structural fire, or a technical rescue, the two call this their dream job.

"If you are up to the task, and this doesn't matter if you're female or male, this is for anybody," Stewart said. "If you want to serve your community, if you want to be part of a team, serve something bigger than yourself, you know, come be a firefighter because we get to have an impact on people's daily lives."

Both Ibiaquez and Stewart just completed a structural collapse rescue class together. Now, Ibiaquez is in the middle of trench rescue training.

Stewart told WDRB every firefighter has different lived experiences, backgrounds, and skills that allow them to work as a team.

In March, the Louisville Fire Department started using a new burn building, giving Louisville's firefighters the latest training advantages.

Regular firefighters carry about 60 pounds of gear. Their regular shifts include 24 hours on duty and 48 hours off in a three-day rotation.

"With firefighting, it is a multi-faceted profession," Stewart said. "At any moment of our day, that alarm could go off and somebody's life is on the line, but and we don't know until we get there. So the attraction to this career field is, for me, it's driven by that desire to help."

There are 30 firefighters currently getting hired to join the team right now, but to become a firefighter applications open again this spring.

"Young women that they haven't been told you could be a firefighter. I'd like to tell them, you could be a firefighter," Stewart said. "Train hard. Don't expect it to be easy. It's not. But come train hard. Come join us."

For more information about how to become a Louisville firefighter, click here.

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