When Salmon Arm firefighter Tammy Young gets home from practice or a call, she knows what to expect.

No matter the time, her whole family B次元官网网址� sons 17 and 24, grandparents 81 and 82, and her husband will gather in the living room, waiting to hear how it went.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 beautiful. It was meant to be in this family,B次元官网网址� she says of firefighting.

Young has always known she wanted to be a firefighter. B次元官网网址淎lways, always.B次元官网网址�

Her dream didnB次元官网网址檛 become a reality, though, until last summer.

She lives in Canoe and said she had driven by the sign B次元官网网址楩irefighters wantedB次元官网网址� many, many times. She had always wanted to help people and she got to thinking, now that she was 42 and her boys were grown, maybe it was time.

She volunteered at the food bank but B次元官网网址淚 knew I had more B次元官网网址� more I wanted to be and do and give.B次元官网网址�

It also helped that someone overrode her self doubts and told her, B次元官网网址榶es, you can do it.B次元官网网址�

She decided to go and see what it would be like.

From day one, she felt welcome.

B次元官网网址淓very part B次元官网网址� the application, the meetings, the courses. Every part and every person sets you up for success.B次元官网网址�

She went to her first practice in August 2022.

B次元官网网址淚 fell in love with it from that moment. My very first practice I was welcomed as if I had been part of the family forever. The inclusion was I guess nothing I ever could have expected.B次元官网网址�

Asked if physical strength has been an issue, the answer is no. She said the job is very physical and you have to be fit, but there are techniques you are trained to use if, for example, you need to carry someone out a window.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always safety first.B次元官网网址�

Young said sheB次元官网网址檚 experienced no discrimination, only support and kindness.

B次元官网网址淣ot once have I felt anything other than pure sincere goodness.B次元官网网址�

Another woman works out of Hall 1 in Canoe with her, and B次元官网网址渟heB次元官网网址檚 perfect, she treats me like a sister.B次元官网网址�

Young and her husband and grandparents were watching a movie when her first call came in.

Young threw the remote in the air and ran. She said she was scared by the alarm but not the call. She couldnB次元官网网址檛 contain her excitement.

B次元官网网址淚 always show my emotions on my face and I ran in with a big smile.B次元官网网址�

When she returned home, her family had paused the movie and was waiting for her.

B次元官网网址淚t was beautiful to see their excitement with me.B次元官网网址�

Young doesnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate when asked if sheB次元官网网址檇 recommend firefighting to other women.

B次元官网网址淚 would really recommend it to women and to men. I truly believe there are so many women out there who would excel and absolutely love it. If youB次元官网网址檝e ever wanted and considered doing it, now is the time.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌�

Fire Chief Brad Shirley is equally pleased to see more female firefighters joining the Salmon Arm team. The department now has six women, three of whom are in the current recruit training program. Six is the most the department has seen.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e certainly fortunate to have them. TheyB次元官网网址檙e a great asset to our team,B次元官网网址� he said.

Along with Tammy Young in CanoeB次元官网网址檚 Hall 1 is Kendall Landry. In Hall 2 North Broadview are Jazmine MacMillan, Nathalie Augustin and Kelsey Gorgichuk. Ashley Boechler is in Hall 3 downtown.

For International WomenB次元官网网址檚 Day, the Salmon Arm Fire Department is celebrating its female firefighters on Facebook.

B次元官网网址淲e recognize these incredible women of the Salmon Arm Fire Department for their ongoing commitment & dedication throughout each year, specifically on International WomenB次元官网网址檚 Day, March 8th. LetB次元官网网址檚 all step forward and commit to #EmbraceEquity,B次元官网网址� reads a post on the departmentB次元官网网址檚 page.

#Embrace Equity is the International WomenB次元官网网址檚 Day 2023 campaign theme. The aim, stated on the official website, is B次元官网网址渢o get the world talking about Why equal opportunities arenB次元官网网址檛 enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.B次元官网网址�

The BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) is also recognizing the contributions of women B次元官网网址� those who fight wildfires. Their video is below. Women from Salmon Arm are regularly part of the wildfire service, often training with Rapattack, which has its base in Salmon Arm.

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