VIDEO: The U.S. Fire Administration says just nine percent of all firefighters nationwide are women. I'm Pari Apostolakos reporting in Suamico, where women here have defied that trend.
Alysse Kott remembers the day she came to the Suamico Fire Department for a job interview.
"There were [two] women as soon as I walked in. I saw and I'm like wow, this is very unique."
And there were other days too she took notice.
"I remember this one call, it was all three women working one day. They were kind of shocked, but they were also very appreciative and inspired."
Across much of the country, this is not the norm.
Suamico Fire Chief Joe Bertler was not surprised when I called to ask how many women work there.
"It's a question we get asked a lot actually."
He says out of 40 firefighters, nine are women. Almost a quarter of the department.