Women In Fire

The fire service has research. Most of it wasn't written with women in mind. 🔬

Women make up less than 8% of career firefighters — but 100% of the health risks we face deserve the same level of research, resources, and attention that male firefighters have always had.

That's changing. Women in Fire is part of that change.

Our Health & Wellness resources are built specifically for women in the fire service — grounded in science, vetted by researchers, and designed around what your body actually faces on this job.

Here's what the research tells us:
— Cardiovascular disease is a leading LODD cause — and women's risk profiles differ from men's in ways that standard physicals don't always account for
— Women firefighters face elevated occupational cancer risk through documented exposure pathways — and research shows those risks are not the same as their male counterparts
— 37% of firefighters screen positive for sleep disorders — and sleep apnea presents so differently in women that it's routinely missed or delayed in diagnosis
— Shift work is associated with a 2x higher breast cancer risk in women — a connection most departments have never addressed
— Women firefighters carry compounded stressors that standard mental health screenings weren't designed to capture

The resources exist. They're free. They're built for you!

🔗 womeninfire.org/resources

The fire service has a drinking problem. The data says so - and for women, the risks are different. 🔬

Women's bodies metabolize alcohol more slowly than men's. The thresholds for harm are lower. And yet most women in the fire service are applying male-based guidelines to their own health. That stops today.

Here's what the science actually says:
- Nearly half of all career firefighters report heavy drinking on their off days, rates that are dramatically higher than the military and the general public
- Binge drinking for women starts at 4 drinks in 2 hours, not 5. That's the evidence-based threshold and most people don't know it
- Alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen, the same classification as asbestos, and it is directly linked to female breast cancer. Firefighters already face elevated cancer risk from the fireground. Heavy drinking compounds it
- Research explicitly states that the sleep-disrupting effects of alcohol are stronger in women than men, critical for anyone on a 24-hour shift schedule
- If you ever file a cancer claim, your alcohol history can be a factor in determining whether your cancer is deemed job-related

This isn't a judgment. This is information. Information that has been sitting in a research monograph that Women in Fire helped develop, and every woman in the fire service deserves to have it.

🔗 Read and download the full resource: womeninfire.org/resources

We are so excited to welcome our newest Northeast Region Trustee — Chris Archibald! 🔥

Chris brings an extraordinary depth of experience to this role. A Navy veteran, she went on to become the first full-time female Lieutenant at Henniker Fire Rescue in New Hampshire, a milestone that says everything about who she is and what she stands for.

As our Northeast Region Trustee, Chris will serve as a direct link between Women in Fire and fire and EMS departments across the Northeast, advocating for women in the region and helping grow our community where it matters most, at the local level.

Chris currently serves as Fire Service Program Manager at Stedfast USA and sits on multiple NFPA committees, where she is actively shaping the future of firefighter gear and safety standards. A teacher and mentor at heart, Chris has dedicated her career to watching the next generation of firefighters grow.

She also holds a Doctorate in Law, a Master's in Healthcare Administration, and two bachelor's degrees, and we are incredibly proud to have that expertise representing the Northeast on our board.

Welcome, Chris. We are honored to have you. 💪🔥

🔗 womeninfire.org

"This conference is one of the best." - Laurie, Nurse & fire service professional 🔥

That's not hype. That's 30 years of showing up and knowing the difference.

Here's what Laurie had to say about the her experience at Women in Fire International Conferences:

"WOMEN IN FIRE, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, SEPT. 16-19th, 2026, AUSTIN, TEXAS. Registration for the 2026 International Women in Fire Conference is now open.

I strongly encourage all firefighters and command staff, REGARDLESS OF GENDER, to participate in this exceptional event.

With over 30 years of attendance at both medical and fire related conferences, I can confidently say that this conference is one of the best.

The classes, drills, and vendor information offered are of the highest quality, providing unmatched learning opportunities and camaraderie. As a nurse, I have found the classes to be highly informative and relevant, and I believe that this conference would be beneficial to anyone in the fire service or related fields.

I highly recommend attending this conference, as it provides a unique and valuable opportunity for learning and networking. The Women in Fire organization is truly exceptional, and attending this conference will be a valuable experience."
— Laurie

The 2026 Women in Fire International Conference is coming to Austin, Texas — September 16–19 — and registration is officially open.
What's waiting for you:
🎤 Dynamic keynote speakers
🛠️ Hands-on workshops & breakout sessions
📈 Leadership & career development tracks
🤝 Networking & mentorship opportunities
💪 Wellness-focused programming
🏭 Exhibitor experiences & industry engagement

Open to all fire service professionals: regardless of gender!

📋 Full agenda: https://bit.ly/4nDsXRI 🔗 Register: womeninfire.org

When workplace culture goes wrong in the fire service: bullying, moral injury, agency betrayal... there are real legal and human consequences.

🎙️Our Fractional General Counsel, Alisa Arnoff, sat down with host Christopher Baker on The Baker Podcast (Episode 20) for a conversation every fire service leader needs to hear.

Alisa pulls no punches on:
🔥 Recruitment & retention challenges facing departments today
⚖️ What employment law actually means for company officers
🧠 Moral injury and agency betrayal - and why they matter
🛡️ Building healthier, more accountable workplace cultures

Link in below to listen. 47 minutes well spent. 👇
🎧 https://bit.ly/4nG5Hm0

Turnout gear. Fire truck. Mom.

Some people wear one hat. She wears them all!

This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating every woman in the fire service who clocks out of the station and straight into the most important role she’ll ever hold.

The women who answer the alarm at 3am and somehow still make it to the school play. Who teach their kids what courage looks like - not by talking about it, but by living it every single day.

To all the firefighter moms in our community: we see you. We honor you. We are so proud to stand beside you!

Happy Mother’s Day!