Wake County is teaming up with Wake Tech Community College and six other fire departments to recruit more people to work for them. The program is called “Career in a Year.” The goal is to increase racial and gender diversity within its fire departments. The county says right now 97 percent of staff with Wake County Fire Services are male. 94 percent are white. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says nationally around 95 percent of career firefighters are men and 85 percent are white. For the first time, candidates a part of this program can apply with no experience to be able to earn a salary while being trained. The county says they hope to break down barriers that may have prevented women and other minorities from considering careers in fire services. The money comes from $2.3 million the county received from the American Rescue Plan Act.