Tulsa Fire Department Holds First Skills Camp For Young Women

For the first time, the Tulsa Fire Department hosts a fire camp for young girls. The camp kicked off Monday for young women who may want to become a firefighters.

Women ages 13 to 21 are getting a firsthand look at a career in firefighting at the Tulsa Training Academy.

Participants are learning breathing techniques with firefighting apparatus as well as search and rescue.

They'll take part in a physical agility course, and CPR and EMS drills. They'll also tour Station 4 and try out the ladders, hoses and firefighting tools.

The camp instructors are female firefighters. They say they're running the camp because they want young women to view firefighting as a possible career opportunity.

"We don't have very many firefighters in the field who are women, so we thought this was a great way to introduce girls to the possibility of a non-traditional job for a woman," said Assistant Fire Chief Debra Bailey, a fire camp coordinator.

The camp wraps up at 4 p.m. Monday.