Girl Power Takes Over Orange County Fire Authority This Weekend

IRVINE, CA —Fire service professionals are matching up with over 70 teenage girls to teach firefighting skills in a hands-on, intensive training course this weekend.

"Dozens of teenagers will be trained on what it takes to be in the fire service," Orange County Fire Authority spokeswoman Colleen Windsor told Patch.

This is the second year that the OCFA has hosted the camp for teenage girls age 14 to 18.

Campers learn how to use various firefighting tools and equipment, Windsor said. Still, it is the desire to build confidence in the young women, and to provide them experience in all aspects of firefighting that drives the program.

"Our female firefighters will share their unique perspective of the fire service to the campers," Windsor said.

Historically, women are grossly underrepresented in the fire service.

"The camp is an essential recruitment tool that exposes high school teens to the possibilities of the fire service as a viable career choice," she said.

The camp will run Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.