Diversity & Inclusion
Building fire and EMS departments that reflect and serve everyone.
The Diversity “Dog Whistle” in the Fire Service
Last time I checked, it's 2019. Isn't it about time to retire the diversity "dog whistle?" Why is it that so many white males in the fire service still hear "diversity" and their Pavlovian Response is "Diversity is fine, but not at the expense of quality and competence?
What inclusiveness does, and doesn’t, look like in a fire department
I’m doing research for a future article on inclusiveness. I know, I know, everyone is writing about diversity and inclusiveness…
Build inclusiveness in your fire department and they will come
By: Marlene Kostyrka, Assistant Chief, Charleston (SC) Fire Department As I scroll through social media these days there seems to be a glaring issue with people…
Men could stop sexual harassment in the fire service tomorrow
Update: I’ve updated this post because I was moved by the courageous post I read today from a fire service…
Why aren’t fire departments getting better at inclusion?
So, I was on the road headed towards FDIC 2019 in Indianapolis and some random thoughts began running through my…
Women in the Fire Service: Carrying the Burden of Being Female
So, if a strong and articulate and bright woman can feel like this over the course of her career (Remember, she rose through the ranks and retired as a captain), how are other women dealing with these issues and anxieties?
What you don’t know about FMLA can hurt you
So, how much do you know about FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act) as an employee? As a supervisor? If you’ve answered, “Not much” in either capacity, there’s a potential for real trouble “down the road.”
Camp FFIT gives real fire service experience to young women in Ontario
They learn that to truly be successful in this career—especially for a woman—you have to be physically fit and mentally sharp at all times. ‘Cause as a firefighter you’ve always got to have your eyes and ears open and taking it all in, and if you don’t you could get yourself or someone else seriously injured or killed.
The role of scholarship in fire and emergency services
Chief Avsec highlights the importance for scholarship and research in the fire service with this post that features a new research paper from Firefighter Lydia Wilcox on the topic of women entering the fire service in Ontario, Canada.
Firefighter Pregnancy: Why is this so hard?
I believe that Federal Law does not provide adequate protection to women in the fire service. In other public safety careers, e.g., it can be much easier for a woman to either continue working their normal job or switch to another unit where they can get light duty. For us firefighters, it is much harder, especially if you are in a smaller department. Those light-duty opportunities are just not available.
Continuing Leadership Problems in a Fire Department
This is the title of a recent post from my fire service colleague and attorney, Curt Varone, on his blog,…
Barriers to Inclusion: A Case Study
Bringing more women into your fire department is not going to add value or capabilities to your organization unless your…