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Nov. 09--Of all the reasons people choose to become a firefighter, Sarabeth Dover said the desire to help others in their moment of need sealed the deal for her.
"I just love that feeling, that we can do something for them," she said as she reflected on her career.
Dover, 23, works as a compensated volunteer (or part-time) firefighter for both the City of Kilgore and the Canton Volunteer Fire Department.
Born and raised in Canton, Dover got her start in the fire service as a volunteer for her local department, but her passion for firefighting started at a young age as she would listen to the tales of other firefighters who talked about the calls their stations received.
"Just hearing their stories ... they were always people you could just talk to so easily. I always admired them and wanted to be like them," she said. "I thought being a firefighter has got to be an amazing job. The way they talk about it, they love it so much.
"Also the excitement of it. I got interested in hearing their stories and seeing on the inside -- what they do," she continued.
Dover said the best stories were the ones not seen in the news or portrayed in movies.
"Whether there wasn't a reporter there or it got pushed under the cover -- they are saving people's lives or doing an act of kindness to help someone out in their time of need. It's nothing to them because it's their job and they want to do it. They don't need it publicized that they are being heroic firemen. They saved somebody's life today. It's just another day to them."
Dover said working at the volunteer department in Canton was different than working for a staffed department because volunteers have to travel from home to the station before heading to an emergency call.
"With the response times being longer, once we get to the fire, the damage is done and we're there to keep it from happening to anything else," Dover said as she recalled her first fire experience as a teenager. "The first house fire I went to, it was pretty much already burned up. We kept the trees from burning around it and contained it. No one was inside. Everyone was safe.
"What really captured me from that fire, I remember, was there was one room in that house that had not burned. We were able to get in there after the fire was controlled. We got their pictures and their keepsakes and their clothing that was salvageable," she added. "They were so thankful that we were able to do that. We couldn't save their house but we saved a few things that were irreplaceable. That night, I realized there's no way I can do anything in life but be a firefighter."
While female firefighters are not unheard of, they are definitely a minority in the field, said Rhonda Paul, program manager for the Kilgore College Fire Academy.
"Definitely not as many as males, but I know through the online program, we had 12 go through in the past fiscal year," Paul said. "We have a couple girls coming in from the Austin and Roundrock in January and February."
Paul worked as program manager for the past seven years, but remembers seeing female firefighters come through the academy since the program began in 1989.
"I think the first ones we saw come through here was with the third class," Paul said.
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
Being a female in a physically demanding, high stress job does have its challenges, Dover explained.
"There are several differences in male and female firefighters," Dover said. "Obviously, one of the biggest ones is the physical aspect, which I struggle with still. The physical ability that it takes just to do the job and much less the physical test that you have to pass just to get in the job. Once you pass that, it doesn't end. You have to continually meet the standard there. There's no slack there because it's the same job regardless of your gender."
Dover also said social interactions between firefighters can be challenging for females. She said the biggest thing to remember is not everything that is said -- by males or other females -- should be taken personally.
Regardless of gender, Dover said an important trait all firefighters need is the ability to talk to people and understand what they are thinking during emergency situations.
"You have to be able to understand and kind of read people to know what they're thinking and know what actions you need to take based on someone's attitude," she said.
LIFE-LONG LEARNING
While Dover does not recommend firefighting for every woman, she encourages anyone interested in joining the service to find a mentor who can train them to be the best firefighter they can be.
"I have met some female firefighters that I truly admire and wish to be like. I try to model my career choices and things that I do after them," she said. "The biggest [trait I admire] is having a very persistent attitude and not giving up. I have found that there are places in this career that you want to give up and you can't let yourself.
"I've seen women who have been through those places several times in their career. They keep going on strong. They never falter. They never consider the thought of giving up," Dover continued. "That's one thing that female firefighters need is the willingness to do the job no matter what and to become a 'firefighter.'"
Dover said those who have been with the fire service for just a few years consider themselves to be 'apprentices,' hoping to learn from the seasoned veterans in their career.
"Until we've been there 10 or 15 years and seen a thing or two, none of us are 'firefighters.'"
For more information on becoming a firefighter, visit www.kilgore.edu/fire_ academy. asp.
