Pulverizing cars and smashing glass: What goes on at a girls firefighting bootcamp
Priscilla Hwang | CBC News | Posted: August 10, 2016 10:00 PM | Last Updated: August 10, 2016
'The job is challenging. It's a life or death situation. But what we're looking for is those diamonds'
On a steaming hot Tuesday afternoon, Rachel Harvey placed a hard helmet on her head and covered herself with a thick, tan suit lined with neon stripes — fulfilling a dream years in the making.
"I always wanted to be a firefighter since I was like three years old," said 16-year-old Harvey. "Honestly, I'm not a person that can sit behind a computer and just work on files and stuff."
She's one of 18 girls who get to train to be a firefighter for a week at the first ever Camp Ignite in Mississauga.
"We want to ignite that spark in them and show them that it is possible, and it's really rewarding and viable career," said Shelli Varela, the camp's leader.
She would know. Varela was the first female firefighter in Mississauga and the first ever female fire captain with Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services.
So what does it take to be a firefighter like Varela?
First, the girls learn inside the classroom.
Then it's time for some equipment 101.
They get suited.
When asked what it feels like, the girls erupted into chatter. "It's really thick. There's many layers," said one. "It feels like sleeping bags!" shouted another. "I can totally sleep in this."
Right away, they marched over to a mock scene of a crash, where there was a car with trapped, imaginary passengers to save.
Then they moved in. "Breaking glass!" they shouted, using duct-tape to prevent the glass from shattering in victims' faces before smashing it.
Then they started breaking apart the car doors with heavy, metal plyers. They cut through the car's metal frames and hood.
"Most people don't really think that girls can be firefighters, but I think any girl can be a firefighter if they want to," said Harvey. "You can do anything if you want to."
Varela said this won't be the last time the program runs. She encourages girls who are up for the challenge to sign up for the program next year.
"The job is challenging. It's a life or death situation. But what we're looking for is those diamonds," said Varela. "You can't argue with excellence."