Female Junior Firefighter takes Pride in Volunteering

Volunteer firefighting is a profession that is frequently rooted in family and lineage. Often times it’s a son eager to follow his father or a nephew wanting to be like his uncle. However, especially during Women’s History Month in the United States, it is important to realize that firefighters are not solely male and anyone with a passion for helping others is more than welcome to volunteer.

One young woman that deserves a spotlight is Jamie Sims – a 17-year-old junior firefighter who volunteers with the Glendora Fire Company – one of four fire companies that make up The Firefighters of Gloucester Township in New Jersey. Sims hails from a family of firefighters. Having both her father and brother volunteer inspired her to follow suit along with an overarching desire to help people in need and spread fire safety awareness.

Sims, a junior at Triton Regional High School, plans on attending fire academy once she turns 18. She believes her time as a volunteer has prepared her tremendously for her professional life in many influential ways.

When it comes to preparedness, volunteering has built an immense sense of responsibility and accountability within her. Although she is not allowed to enter burning buildings, junior volunteers like Sims still play a critical role at the scene of an emergency.

“When you go out on a call, you can’t wander. You have to be where you are supposed to be,” said Sims. “People depend on you.”

Junior volunteers are prepared for active duty in simulations and drills and train with adult firefighters. During one drill, volunteers simulated an emergency evacuation during a roof collapse. The volunteers wore masks to darken their visibility, emulating what they would see in the event of a blackout or thick black smoke. At these drills, Sims was able to use SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) gear for herself and experienced first-hand some of the situations she may find herself in as a volunteer.

Sims also described witnessing two controlled burns during training drills; a building fire in Camden County ignited with propane as well as a hay fire in Salem County. The purpose of showing the volunteers two different types of fires is to instill within them the fact that every emergency situation is different and volunteers must be thoroughly prepared for all aspects which could inhibit their safety, depending on the emergency at hand.

One of the best things about volunteering is the camaraderie and companionship individuals begin to develop towards their fellow volunteers. Despite the obvious differences in age and gender, Sims was still able to connect with the members at her station. “They are like my brothers,” she said, “I love spending my time up there. Even if I am taken out of my comfort zone - it’s still amazing.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, of the estimated 1,115,000 career and volunteer firefighters in the United States, approximately 11 percent are female

Despite currently being the only female volunteer at her fire company, Sims loves what she is doing.

“Being a woman in the fire house is truly an amazing experience. I feel power when I go out on calls and accomplish tasks with the team,” said Sims. “My time at the station has really proven to myself that as a woman, you can still be whatever you want to be.”

Sims’ commitment to volunteering has not derailed her work-life balance and she believes that the help she contributes as a volunteer makes it all more than worth it.

“Even if it’s not something you want to do, it’s something you will want to have done,” she said, “Being in the fire company has helped me so much and I love the fact that I’m helping people.”

Sims believes that her time volunteering at the Glendora Fire Company has cleared a path for her own career trajectory. Upon completion of Firefighter 1, Sims plans on attending nursing school to become a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse, caring for newborn and infant children.

Being exposed to various emergency equipment and personnel has provided Sims her foundation. “The singular action of volunteering can open up so many doors for any individual,” she said. For those wishing to pursue careers in emergency services, Sims highly recommends starting an EMS career in firefighting to get hands-on experience.

When asked what her family and friends at Triton High School thought of her being a volunteer firefighter and the dangers associated with it, Sims remained as stoic as ever:

“My mom and dad are proud,” she said, “It’s not about having guts, it’s about doing something you want to do. It’s about helping people.”

Many people wonder what drives these volunteers to put their lives at risk for the sake of others. To Sims, the thing that she enjoys most about volunteer firefighting as well as one of the main reasons as to why she decided to join in the first place is for the benefit of the people in her community and the feeling of fulfillment it brings to her.

“When we’re out doing our job, people say, ‘Wow!’” she said. “Helping and being there for people, teaching little kids fire safety, and seeing them smile while learning just makes you want to do more.”

Volunteers Always Appreciated

The Blenheim, Chews Landing, Erial, and Glendora Fire Companies are working together to grow their base of volunteer firefighters through the recruitment campaign – The Firefighters of Gloucester Township.

No previous fire-related experience is required and each station provides volunteers with the necessary training and equipment free of charge.

For more information on The Firefighters of Gloucester Township please visit firefightersofgloucestertwp.org.