The Kaibab National Forest and Grand Canyon National Park joined together to facilitate a Women in Wildfire (WIW) boot camp. Experienced firefighters from the forest and park mentored, taught and challenged 16 women selected to participate in the training, the first one the Kaibab has hosted.
The (WIW) boot camps are a pathway for women to learn about and prepare for careers in wildland fire, in many cases a profession that they may not have previously considered. The goal of this program is to increase the number of qualified, enthusiastic and professional women on certification lists for federal fire and aviation management hiring.
“I think part of the problem is that, all too often, women don’t really “see” themselves as firefighters,” said Kaibab National Forest Supervisor Heather Provencio.