A group of female firefighters trained together in Spanaway over the weekend during an event that was meant to both mentor and empower them.
The event brought together more than 40 female firefighters from California and Washington. They covered live fire training, worked with power tools and practiced auto extrication.
Firefighter Kelsey Nunley, who started in Seattle last year, said getting hired was a long process.
“I took multiple tests over seven years,” Nunley said.
For her, having a mentor made a big difference. A training like this helped her sharpen her skills.
“This is an opportunity to give people that skill-set that might help them advance in their careers,” Los Angeles City Fire Battalion Chief Kristine Larson explained.
Larson has been a firefighter for 29 years and said she’s noticed more women entering the field, but admits there’s still a long way to go.