WOMEN RECRUITS ALL FIRED UP AT LAFD EVENT.Byline: BRENT HOPKINS Staff Writer NORTHRIDGE -- Lorraine Moore, biceps straining, lowered her shoulder toward the imaginary fire and pulled with all her might. The thick hose dragged behind her, its 2 1/2-inch diameter head clenched clench tr.v. clenched, clench·ing, clench·es 1. To close tightly: clench one's teeth; clenched my fists in anger. 2. tight in her firefighter's glove. Moore raced forward, pulling the 100-foot tube to its full length from the serpentine serpentine (sûr`pəntēn, –tīn), hydrous silicate of magnesium. It occurs in crystalline form only as a pseudomorph having the form of some other mineral and is generally found in the form of chrysotile (silky fibers) and pile behind her. Then, straining in her Nikes, she began to haul it in, hand over hand. She yanked all 120 pounds into a new pile, not pausing for rest, then did the whole thing over again. "I ... don't ... like ... desk ... jobs," she panted before recovering her breath. "I like to get out and help people." And so the 27-year-old Palmdale resident spent her Saturday morning trying out the life of a firefighter at a Los Angeles Fire Department The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), also known as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. recruiting fair. The athletic Navy veteran found it to her liking and soon plans to take the test to join the department. The LAFD LAFD Los Angeles Fire Department LAFD Los Alamos Fire Department LAFD London Association of Funeral Directors (UK) , stung stung v. Past tense and past participle of sting. stung Verb the past of sting Adj. 1. by criticism of a firehouse culture historically perceived as both racist and sexist sex·ism n. 1. Discrimination based on gender, especially discrimination against women. 2. Attitudes, conditions, or behaviors that promote stereotyping of social roles based on gender. , has labored in recent years to increase the number of women in its ranks. Women currently make up less than 2.7 percent of the department's 3,700 personnel, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Capt. Darnell Wade of the LAFD recruitment unit. With plans to hire 250 people by the end of the fiscal year, Wade and his fellow recruiters aim to make a good number of those new hires women. Saturday's exposition, designed to show the rigors of the job and provide interaction with female firefighters History Historically, firefighting has been regarded as primarily a male activity. Nonetheless, there have been numerous women who actively fought fire alongside their male counterparts. , drew several hundred prospective candidates. "Many of the women I work with are the best partners I've ever had," Wade said. "They train hard and want people to realize that they're not just here because someone placed them there." And the training was quite clearly difficult, even for the curious bunches who trailed in Saturday morning. They hoisted ladders, donned 60-pound packs and hiked up a steep hill Steep Hill is a popular tourist street in the historic city of Lincoln, UK. At the top of the hill you will find the entrance to the Cathedral and at the bottom is Well Lane. The Hill consists of independent shops, tea rooms and pubs. , and lugged 160-pound dummies across the parking lot to simulate simulate - simulation rescuing smoke-inhalation victims. Some were left gasping for breath, but most enthusiastically flexed their muscles and went at it. Fourteen years ago, Capt. Tamara Chick was in the latter group. "I found out about the Fire Department at an event just like this," said Chick, who now coordinates women's recruitment efforts. "I wanted to be a physical therapist, but I told a friend about this thing and she didn't want to go alone. When I went, I fell in love with the job." When she signed on, women didn't even have their own restrooms at fire stations and they accounted for an even smaller fraction of the department's personnel. Though she's watched things change dramatically, she'd like to see even more women join the ranks. Maria Navarro, a 19-year-old from Lancaster, would like to be one of them. She's spent summers working for the U.S. Forest Service attacking wildfires; now she'd like a job in the city. "There's only 90 females in the whole department," she said. "That makes me want to go out and say, 'I can do that. I can be part of that small group.' It'd be pretty neat to be one of those ones who stands out." brent.hopkins(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3738 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) LAFD Firefighter Gonzalez shows Chiara Freedom how to pull up a ladder extension during the department's women's recruitment expo on Saturday. (2) Orli Bloom, left, and Batsheva Rosenberg try on breathing and hose packs during the LAFD women's recruitment expo. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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