Record number of female firefighter applicants

Record number of female firefighter applicants

Fire and Emergency New Zealand has received the highest number ever of female applicants for career firefighter roles.

One hundred and sixty-one women have applied to become firefighters as a result of Fire and Emergency’s latest career recruitment campaign, which closed yesterday (Monday). Female applicants represent 16% of total applications received.

Fire and Emergency Recruitment Manager Rochelle Martin says the increase in female applicants shows a career in Fire and Emergency is becoming a more attractive option for women.

"We want to increase the proportion of career female firefighters from the present level of 4 per cent. Nowadays, firefighting is much more that brute strength and hoses. We have a strong emergency response component and we also undertake a lot of community work. It’s fantastic that women see opportunities to have a career within Fire and Emergency."

Fire and Emergency has also attracted an increasingly ethnically diverse range of applicants.

"Our firefighters need to be able to relate to our increasingly diverse society and these numbers bode well for the future."

The recruitment round attracted a total of 990 applications - the highest number of applicants received in one recruitment round. In two recruitment rounds last year 720 applications were received.

Applicants will now be put through a robust assessment process including cognitive and physical tests and a formal interview. The successful applicants will proceed to three months residential training at Fire and Emergency’s National Training Centre in Rotorua, starting in January or April next year. Each recruits’ course has places for 24 recruits.

ENDS

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