Women's History Month Feature - Women in Wildfire Bootcamp [Arizona]

Students recently gathered at the Prescott Interagency Fire Center for the 2022 Women in Wildfire Bootcamp led by the Prescott National Forest. Fire personnel from Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, Bureau of Land Management, and the US Forest Service collaborated to teach basic firefighter coursework, with a focus on foundational principles and inclusive culture. Students received hands-on instruction on nutrition, camping, line construction, and water delivery, just to name a few. Of the 7 students, 4 were existing agency employees from non-Fire functions and the remaining 3 will be offered employment on an emergency, as-needed basis. 

While the general purpose of the Women in Wildfire Bootcamp is to encourage and support more women to join and succeed in the wildland fire workforce, the bootcamps hosted around the country, are open to anyone considering a career in wildland fire. Currently approximately 20% of the wildland fire workforce is comprised of women.