The female firefighters on the front line
Tackling bush fires and blazes
By Delicia Smith
November 14 2019
With Australia in the grip of bush fire season, thousands of firefighters have been risking their lives fighting blazes, and many women are working on this once male-dominated front line.
WATCH: Bushfire residents see their burnt-down home for the first time
There are currently 83 bush fires burning in NSW, and 72 across QLD, and increasingly windy conditions and temperatures in the mid-to-high thirties have made firefighters' jobs a lot harder.
Amongst the up to 20,000 firefighters who are battling to stop blazes spreading are a growing number of women, including one who has continued to fight fires even though she's 13 weeks' pregnant.
Female firefighters like Amy Pickersgill are fighting blazes across the country. Image: Instagram
Angel Newcombe has been a volunteer for 13 years. Image: Instagram
Female firefighters like Amy Pickersgill and Angel Newcombe have been tackling raging blazes in what was once considered a males-only job.
Amy has posted a number of images and videos to Instagram from the front line.
And, according to Daily Mail, Angel, who has has been a volunteer firefighter with the Rural Fire Service for 13 years, says it's "one of the best and most fulfilling" things she has done.
Angel is currently working for the South Bowenfels Brigade serving the community in Lithgow in the NSW Central Tablelands.
Katherine Robinson-Williams has defended her decision to work on the front line despite being 13 weeks pregnant. Image: Instagram
Another firefighter, Katherine Robinson-Williams, has been on the front line in Taree, while 13 weeks pregnant.
She took to Instagram to defend her decision to battle the flames.
"For all the females on the ground in NSW right now. We stand together we stand proud! Yes I am a firefighter," she wrote on Sunday.
"No I'm not a man. Yes I am a female. Yes I am pregnant. Yes I am going to the fires. And yes I'll be alright. No I won't just stay behind. No I don't care if you don't like it."
"THIS IS MY STATE IN FLAMES! I love my country I love my mates. And if that means I'm needed on the ground. Then I'll always make the way."
Kelly Michelle (right) also volunteers. Image: Instagram
Another female volunteer, Kelly Michelle, has been working at Heathcote Rural Fire Service, in southern Sydney and posted a photo on Tuesday to Instagram.
"Prepared if we're needed," she posted alongside the image of her self and colleagues in uniform.
The female firefighters' brave work comes as a number of residents are returning home to assess damage caused by the bush fires.
One Rainbow Flat couple, Lyn and Peter underwent the heartbreaking task on Monday morning, only to find their home had been completely destroyed by the fire.
"It's only things," said Peter, while clutching his distraught wife.
Originally published as The female firefighters on the front line tackling bushfires and blazes
