Diversity in the Fire Service
These statistics are quoted directly from the resources guide to the PBS special: Test of Courage: the Making of a Firefighter http://www.pbs.org/itvs/testofcourage/resources1.html "As of 2000, women make up 47% of the U.S. labor force. Approximately 5,200 women work as full-time career firefighters and officers, representing just over 2% of the total. In 1998, there were 27,000 African-American and 9,000 Hispanic career firefighters, representing 11.8% and 3.9% of the total respectively. African American women comprise about 10% of female career firefighters and officers. Detroit now has more than 20 African-American women firefighters, including District Chief Charlene Graham, who was promoted in 1996. The District of Columbia Fire Department, which has been one of the nation's leaders in hiring Black women, employs more than fifty as firefighters and an even larger number in EMS. The Oakland Fire Department currently employs more than 15 Black women out of a total force of 491. In New York City, fewer than 6% of FDNY's 11,000 firefighters are men of color and women are .3% (3/10's of 1%) of the total. NYC's overall population is 30% Hispanic, 25-30% African American, 10% Asian and 51% women. The following urban fire departments (more than 75 career personnel) have the highest percentages of women firefighters: Madison, Wisconsin: 14.8%; Boulder, Colorado: 14%; Clay County, Florida: 13.8%; San Francisco: 11.7%; Montgomery Co., Maryland: 10.2%. However, several large urban departments have no women at all. The White House estimates that by 2050, the population of the United States will be approximately 53% White, 25% Hispanic, 14% Black, 8% Asian/Pacific Islander and 1% American Indian. (Sources: Oakland Fire Services Agency, Women in the Fire Service, National Fire Protection Association, National MultiCultural Institute and President's Initiative on Race) " The Fire/EMS/Safety Center Library has a video of the special, Test of Courage, and a print guide to the program at: TH9505.O35 I47 1999 (Covers the experiences of a group of men and women who are new members of the Oakland Fire Department [California]. Filmed over the course of three years, the program shows the training and preparation the participants go through: tests of physical agility,intellectual preparedness and a subjective oral interview. ) In addition, click this link for more resources on diversity in the fire service. Also see the links below.
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