It’s Not Male or Female — It’s Can You Do the Job?
It’s Not Male or Female — It’s Can You Do the Job?
Every so often, the fire service finds itself wrapped up in a headline that has less to do with fireground performance and more to do with optics. Recently, two departments in the Cincinnati area made news for staffing all-female engine companies. As expected, reactions ranged from celebration to criticism. But most of the noise misses the point. The fire service has never been about who you are. It’s about whether you can do the job.
The Only Standard That Matters
When things go bad — and they always do — nobody cares about headlines or hashtags. They care about one thing:
Can the firefighter next to me perform when it counts?
When you’re crawling down a hallway, hanging through a floor, or working a collapse, gender, identity, and titles disappear. What matters is strength, decision-making, discipline, and trust.
That standard applies to everyone.
This Job Is Earned, Not Given
Firefighting is not a participation-trophy profession. Seats on the rig are earned through training, competence, and consistency. There are women in the fire service who absolutely crush this job. They train hard, show up prepared, and don’t want special treatment — they want respect, just like everyone else. There are also men who can’t do the job. Pretending otherwise doesn’t make departments safer. It makes them weaker. Respect in a firehouse is built the same way it always has been: by pulling your weight, knowing your role, and delivering when it matters.
The Fire Service Isn’t a Political Stage
The fire service isn’t the place for branding exercises or political signaling. It’s built on trust, shared hardship, and accountability — not labels. Firefighters don’t want to be defined by categories. They want to be known as firefighters. When someone is killed in the line of duty, they aren’t remembered for how they were marketed. They’re remembered for doing the job and making the ultimate sacrifice.
Own Your Role
Every department needs different skill sets. Not everyone has to be the tip of the spear. Some are exceptional drivers. Some are outstanding medics. Some keep the organization running behind the scenes. This is a team sport. The goal isn’t to force people into roles they don’t want or aren’t suited for. The goal is excellence — wherever you serve.
Bottom Line
The fire service doesn’t need more labels or lower standards. It needs firefighters — men and women — who can do the job, earn their spot, and be trusted when everything goes sideways. Because when the bell hits, performance is all that matters.
