Montgomery County‘s female firefighters were on the frontlines during a four-alarm fire at SPS Technologies in Abington Township.
The County has commended their work, speaking about a need for volunteer firefighters and emphasizing how women are great assets to the fire service.
Lexi Wilmot-Shaw, a volunteer firefighter with the Flourtown Fire Company said: “We were involved in dropping a lot of lines for water and helping with the supply.
“I’ve been doing this for 13 years now, and when I joined, there weren’t too many women, but now it’s more and more.”
According to the National Fire Protection Association, only 9% of firefighters in the United States are women.
Wilmot-Shaw added how she was a fourth-generation member of the Flourtown Fire Company, following in the footsteps of her father, who serves as a Chief.
“I met many of my bridesmaids through the fire academy; some of my best friends are firefighters,” she added.
George Wilmot, Lexi’s father, spoke of his daughters role: “The Dad worry comes out sometimes, but I’m proud of her coming out and I know she is well trained.”
Julianna Smull, 18, has not even graduated high school, but she’s already training to respond to calls with the King of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company.
Julianna Smull said: “I feel like when I came into this, I was a girl. I wasn’t strong until I came in here and I one-up the guys!
“So it was kind of nice to be able to do what they were doing and to show other young girls that they can do anything!”
Montgomery County has spoken about their need for volunteer firefighters and a new recruitment push is calling on everyday people to step up, including women eager to break barriers.
George Wilmot spoke about this drive for recruitment: “There’s no reason that women cannot get involved in the fire service,” George Wilmot said. “They’re accepted just like anyone else.”
“Just be the girl that decides to go for it,” Smull said.
Female firefighters were on the frontlines during a fire at SPS Technologies in Abington Township.
Lexi Wilmot-Shaw, a volunteer firefighter with the Flourtown Fire Company said I’ve been doing this for 13 years now and when I joined, there weren’t too many women, but now it’s more and more.
