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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-09-17, Page 13Exeter Fire Dopartment frsf female recruit The chief is proud of his depart- broken with tradition to welcome a ment, proud of their extensive train- woman to its ranks, and proud of the ing and practice routine, proud of the performance of the department's first fact the Exeter department has female recruit. Kathy Kirk, the first woman in Huron County training to become a volunteer firefighter, refers to herself as "just one of the guys, and that is how she is treated by her fellow pro- bationers and the members of the Ex- eter and area fire department. Kathy was one of six Exeter residents toansweran ad placed in the Exeter Times -Advocate three months ago by Fire Chief Gary Mid- dleton. All six passed the mandatory medical examination, and began the rigorous eight-month training course. Probationary firelighters join the regular members of the fire depart- ment for the twice -monthly three- hour training and practice sessions carried out twelve months a year. Deputy chief Don Wells, in charge of training, reports that Kathy has not asked for special preference, and none has been given. One moment she is clambering up and down a ladder to the station roof, and the next she is simulating rescue procedures by crawling around on the garage floor weighted down with burdensome self- contained breathing apparatus com- plete with blacked -out face mask. Wells insists that all firefighters be given the opportunity to learn about every piece of equipment - nozzles, ladders, breathing apparatus, hydrants, radio procedures, pump operation et al. All firemen are not re- quired to qualify on all; if wearing the breathing apparatus gives someone claustrophobia, or climbing causes problems, those individuals are assigned other duties. Rappelling down the sides of em- bankments is on the current agenda, and practice on silos will be next. Most sessions end with hauling hose and going over to the canning factory to practice with the 55 -foot ladder. At one time practices were follow- ed by a game of cards in the fire hall. No longer. "By 11:00 p.m. they're whipped," Middleton chuckles. Middleton welcomes the addition of a female to the formerly all-male department. "Women deserve the -Tight to try. As long as they can prove themselves, there is no problem," Middleton says, adding he had not heard a single adverse{,comment from any of the men. The deputy chief agrees that hav- ing a female recruit is great. "It should have happened long ago. I hope it opens the door for more', Wells remarks, describing Kathy as "strong and dedicated". Middleton emphasizes the need for UPS AND DOWNS Deputy Chief Don Wells, (right) training officer for the Exeter and area fire depart- ment and Lt. Don Forrest, in charge of self-contained breathing apparatus training, stand by as new recruit Kathy Kirk descends from the fire station roof. '' dedication, as "no one does this for the money". Volunteers with the Ex- eter department are paid $5 per hour for the training and practice sessions, $9 per hour to fight fires and assist at accidents, and receive an annual tax- free standing fee of $450 as compen- sation for any clothing loss or similar expense. Middleton says 90 percent of ap- plicants give as their reason for ap- plying a desire to help their community. "Those who join because of the social side seldom last out the proba- tionary period. Weare not a service club but a close-knit group of firefighters. Answering a call from nine to five is easy. The hard part is getting up at 3:00 a.m. and throwing on your clothes when it's ten below outside," Middleson points out. Kathy, who turns 31 next month, has a history of community service. She was a Big Sister for three years, and is a regular blood donor and par- ticipant in the cancer walkathon. Her first reaction on spotting Middleton's ad was "This is something different from going to work cat Tuckey verages). I can't lose. If I•make it, —MA—and if I don't, at Ieast-1 fried." ,:Kathy said not one has made her feel unwelcome and "whatever they Can dish out I can give right back". Kathy considers the demanding training a challenge. She is not bothered by heights, and has already logged 12 hours wearing the breathing apparatus. Lt. Don Forrest, responsible for training volunteers to use the self- contained units so vital in rescue work, is glad Kathy volunteered. He reports she is "pulling her weight as great as any of the men", and he thinks she will be a real asset in com- forting people at accident scenes. Kathy has another three months to go before finding out if she made the grade. Middleton will decide at the end of December if all the proba- tioners will stay, as the department needs at least four new volunteers. "We don't know if any will make it until they go to an actual fire. That's the real test, and that's where we lose some", Middleton observes. (Proba- tioners must complete six months' training before being allowed to res- pond to a fire call.) Now that the siren has been replac- ed by pagers, Middleton wonderi if Exeter residents, no longer alerted to all the calls that come in, fully ap- precite their fire department. A team of volunteer firefighters is on call at all times. Some forego a holiday weekend out of town because it's their turn on duty. Crews each take a month of Sundays and give the entire fire hall a thorough cleaning. "Being taken for granted is bad for ►)pr.a e, Middleston asserts. Maybe we should blow our own horn mote. READY FOR A RESCUE — Wearing the breathing apparatus gives some firefighters claustrophobia, but it doesn't bother Kathy Kirk, the first woman to volunteer to train with the Exeter and district fire department, Ames - bnlna S.wlh Ilu,un, hmlh Middkxs September 17, 1986 'i vocate air n► lI!iMs Since 1171 PagelA 11- SIMULATION --- Probabionary firemen Jim McGregor, no. 26 and Kathy Kirk, no. 27, simulate a search and rescue operation during one of the twice -monthly training,sessions at the Exeter and district fire department. 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