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Bootcamp To Train Women Wildland Firefighters

TheHilaryClark
/
Pixabay

Women don’t become firefighters at nearly the rate that men do in the U.S. Now, forest service officials in New Mexico are working to have crews that reflect our communities.

The Women in Wildland Fire Bootcamps begin in September and they train women in wildland firefighting.

Dennis Fahl with the Gila National Forest Black Range District said they aren’t just for firefighting. They expose women to careers like wildlife management and archaeology.

"If you really enjoy the outdoors, if you really enjoy working hard and you really enjoy working in a close knit group, then this job is really set up for you," Fahl said.

Participants get a core foundation in firefighting. They can also take evening courses in resume writing and get a chance to talk with specialists in different forestry fields. Fahl said that’s why the bootcamps help make long-term career success possible. 

Women who complete the bootcamps get a wildland firefighter certification that allows them to apply for temporary jobs. 

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  • September 14-15, 21-22 Santa Fe and Carson National Forests, Santa Fe, N.M.
  • Application Deadline: August 17, 2019

Taylor is a reporter with our Poverty and Public Health project. She is a lover of books and a proud dog mom. She's been published in Albuquerque The Magazine several times and enjoys writing about politics and travel.
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