WHITEWATER, Wis. (AP) - If someone tells Samantha LeQuire she can’t do something because of her size or gender, she turns around and proves them wrong.
She always has.
Now, at age 25, LeQuire is the first female firefighter for the city of Whitewater.
The volunteer department has existed for 144 years.
“On one hand, I feel very proud of myself that I was able to show that I can do it,” LeQuire said, sitting inside the fire department. “On the other hand, I’m sad I was the one that was the first. How come more women haven’t tried? Was it because there wasn’t any interest? Was it because they thought they couldn’t? What was the reason for that?”
LeQuire grew up in Palmyra with her parents and sister and spent a lot of time at the Racine Fire Department. Her father, grandfather, uncle and cousin are firefighters.
She didn’t want to be a firefighter before because it didn’t pique her interest and she didn’t see women doing the job.
“I never saw women around,” LeQuire told The Janesville Gazette (https://bit.ly/1GRUHbW ). “It was always, ’Let’s go see the guys at the fire department’ or ’The guys are doing this.’ I just never really thought that was something I could do.”
Years passed. LeQuire entered nursing school and realized it wasn’t for her.
She then became an EMT, started school to be a paramedic and began volunteering for the Whitewater Rescue Squad.
About three years ago, her then-fiancé and now-husband Dustin LeQuire joined the volunteer fire department. LeQuire began spending more time around the station on Whitewater Street.
She watched the guys jump in the trucks and head out to the latest call while she was left behind with a growing yearning to join the men.
Last March, LeQuire applied for an open position at the department. She was voted on for the standard year-long probationary period.
Over the next 12 months, she completed a firefighting course at Waukesha County Technical College. She fulfilled necessary training requirements, responded to calls and attended meetings.
On March 5, the 37 members of the volunteer department voted to make LeQuire an official volunteer firefighter.
The vote wasn’t unanimous, but that is typical of any vote, Fire Chief Don Gregoire said.
Some people questioned whether LeQuire had completed the requirements and if she’d have time with her hectic schedule.
Getting the required two-thirds vote was what mattered to LeQuire.
“I made it on. That’s all that matters,” LeQuire said.
Being a woman in a male-dominated field doesn’t faze LeQuire. She takes it in stride and is considered one of the guys.
The tide is changing. More women are becoming firefighters, and the hesitation about letting women in is fading, LeQuire said.
“I was a little scared,” she said about taking on the year-long probationary period and tackling stereotypes. “I heard people say ’They (women) can’t do it’ (and) ’What are they going to do for us?’ It’s fading out. . Maybe someday there will be a lot of female firefighters and no one bats an eye. We’re getting there.”
LeQuire is a good fit for the firefighting team, and Gregoire is proud of the members’ decision.
“I’m really happy with the department as a whole because the department did the right thing, gave her the chance, worked through and helped her,” Gregoire said.
“Truthfully, my personal feeling is that it’s about time,” he said, adding that his 17-year-old daughter was hoping to be the first woman firefighter.
LeQuire’s height of 5 feet 3 inches and slender frame shouldn’t fool you. She can do anything a man can do - just with a little modification.
She holds and carries ladders using the inside of her forearm rather than her shoulder, as men do. It’s just as safe and effective. She has different techniques for hauling hose, and she has put a little extra padding in her helmet and ties up her hair in a ponytail to keep the helmet from wiggling around.
Department members have supported LeQuire and pushed her to be the best firefighter possible. There were initial doubts because of her size, she said, but those quickly passed.
LeQuire’s next challenge has yet to be determined. She has to pass a few exams in June to become a paramedic. After that, she sees a question mark.
She is certain of one thing. If someone tries to steer her away from something she wants to do, she says to herself, “Just watch me.” She hopes girls and other women do the same thing.
“If it’s what you really like doing and really want to do, then just go for it,” LeQuire said. “It’s better than having the regret of never trying.”
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Information from: The Janesville Gazette, https://www.gazetteextra.com
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