LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Fire Department is actively recruiting people that want to serve in their community. The department said they have 54 vacancies for firefighter positions at this moment, and hope to fill them with a focus on women and people of color.

Sergeant Tamara Stewart is one of a few women in the fire department, and she’s hoping to make strides for more women. She drives the big, red trucks known for saving people’s lives. 

A Louisville Fire Department engine sits in a parking lot at the Louisville Fire Training Academy. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)

“Each of these engines has 500 gallons of water and as we open these gates up, it allows all these valves to open and sends the water to the nozzle,” Sgt. Stewart said, explaining the process.

She’s walking on the same ground she became a firefighter on for LFD nine years ago. Stewart completed her 26-week training at the Louisville Fire Training Academy and said she had to go through it twice because she didn’t become a firefighter the first time around.

“I grew up in the 80s in Texas and I don’t remember seeing female firefighters. Maybe they were there, but there were only one or two,” she said. “So I never really considered it as a career for myself because nobody in my family was a firefighter.”

Sgt. Stewart spent eight years teaching at Jefferson County Public Schools before making a change.

At 36, she took the leap to climb ladders and buildings to fight fires for a living. It’s a job she says can be intimidating for women when they’re up against men.

“Say there’s a piece of equipment that weighs 50 pounds. That’s ⅓ my weight but one of my firefighters he might weight 240 — that’s ⅕ of his weight. Maybe it isn’t as hard for him as it is for me, but we’re expected to do the same job,” said Sgt. Stewart.

Various fire safety equipment sits on the ground during a Louisville Fire Training Academy session. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)

As a recruit, Stewart was one of three women in her class of 40. That’s why she’s teaching people what it takes as a woman, hoping to inspire. New fire recruits are tasked with climbing a seven story building and other physical agility tests over the course of 26 weeks.

LFD’s Assistant Chief Randolph Croney said it’s not just women and people of color they need—it’s anyone ready to serve their community.

“We’re looking for minorities, females, white males. We will receive all applicants. That way, we can build our culture and continue building our culture and our department,” Croney said.

“Even though I might not be the strongest person in my company, I’d like to think that with my muscle endurance I can go, go and go. That fire might be out in thirty minutes or it might be out in 4 hours,” Stewart explained.

Sgt. Stewart values different strength levels in the department, saying it leads to higher success in fighting fires.

The Louisville Fire Department will have a new recruit class of 38 people starting on June 21. Interested applicants must be 18 years old with a high school diploma or a GED, and can apply here.