The lack of diversity in fire and rescue services tends to focus on the low number of women firefighters, but fire engineering is also heavily male-dominated.

You may have seen the social media story about Esme – the little girl who wanted to be a boy so she could become a firefighter. Earlier this year, London Fire Brigade helped launch a children’s book called My Mummy is a Firefighter which was a collaboration with a small social enterprise called Butterfly Books. The book is a part of a series whose aim is to tackle gender stereotyping in particular careers.

I was very pleased to spearhead this project on behalf of the brigade, but I am not a firefighter – I am an engineer. So you might ask why I became involved with this project? The reasons are numerous.

Read the full article on our digital issue, pages 34-35.

 

Not yet a subscriber? Sign up to FIRE magazine today from just £36 per year.