Pasadena-Glendale Women’s Fire Academy Tackles Gender Gap in Firefighting

The Pasadena and Glendale Fire Departments made history this weekend by joining forces to host their first collaborative Women’s Fire Academy, introducing 60 young women to the challenges and rewards of firefighting careers in a profession where women represent just 5% of the workforce.

“I think what prompted it was we realized that women in both cities are underrepresented in the fire service,” Captain Jodi Slicker of the Pasadena Fire Department told Pasadena Now on Sunday.

“Working closely with Glendale — and them being our neighboring city — we thought that if we combined forces, we could reach out to a greater real estate, so to speak, to capture women that are interested in the fire service,” Slicker said.

The two-day program, held on Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27, provided 18-to 25-year-old attendees with hands-on training using firefighting equipment, including water hoses, ventilation tools, and power equipment.

This year’s event marks the third annual academy for Pasadena, but the first collaboration with Glendale.

The women experienced the physical demands of wearing full firefighting gear and heavy tools. Many were surprised by the equipment’s weight and mobility restrictions.

“I don’t think they expected some of our power tools to be as heavy as they are. And the mobility, once you put turnouts on, the range of motion really decreases,” Captain Slicker explained. “I think was a surprise to them.”

The free academy reserved priority registration for residents of Pasadena and Glendale.

With the limited capacity of 60 spots, the program aimed to introduce women to careers in firefighting and emergency medical services through hands-on experience and mentorship opportunities.

Female representation in firefighting remains significantly low, with women making up only about 5% of Pasadena Fire Department staff.

This disparity mirrors national statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, which reports women make up fewer than 5% of firefighters across the country.

“I think these camps have been very vital within the nation… I think as our communities grow, they … bridge that gap of diversity, and represent the community that we serve,” Captain Slicker noted.

Female firefighter instructors play a crucial role in the academy, serving as role models for participants.

“I think this allows women to realize that this is a career that they can actually pursue because they see the females that are actually hired to come out and instruct them, and then that encourages them, that empowers them to then go pursue this career,” Captain Slicker said.

Pasadena might expand the program to team up with other cities.

“I see us maybe joining forces with Burbank as well… because we work very closely together as departments,” Captain Slicker said.

Similar programs have been implemented by other fire departments in Southern California, including the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Women’s Fire Prep Academy and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Women’s Fire Prep Academy.

For now, success isn’t just measured by immediate recruitment.

“If we can capture two, three, four recruits or participants and actually hire them, I think that’s a success. And just overall, just empowering them to even move on to other cities if they get hired. So that’s a success for us if we just uplift them and empower them,” said Captain Slicker.