Teen girls suited up in fire gear Saturday morning and went through firefighter training as part of the Los Angeles Fire Department’s effort to increase the number of women in its ranks.
The LAFD Girls Camp, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in San Pedro, was open to girls ages 14-18.
“We believe that if we start young and let them know that this is a career that they can actually pursue, we’ll have more female firefighters in the Los Angeles Fire Department,” LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas said.
Terrazas said the recruitment goal is to eventually double the number of female firefighters in the department.
In addition to working with authentic gear and equipment, attendees climbed ladders, carried fire hose lines and learned hands-only CPR, Terrazas said.
More information about the event, along with other department recruiting efforts, is available at joinlafd.org.