Fire Department
recruiting women

Jennifer Davis never thought of becoming a firefighter until she met Ricci Naone several years ago at a barbecue.

Naone had just completed firefighter training and suggested that Davis apply. "The idea of it sounded so wonderful," she said.

Davis, who was 30 years old at the time and active in canoe paddling and triathlons, passed the entrance examination and the physical test.

Now 38, Davis has been a firefighter for the Honolulu Fire Department for the past nine years and works out of the Kalihi-Uka Station with HazMat 1.

"It's been exciting ever since," she said.

The Honolulu Fire Department, along with the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Community Services-OahuWorkLinks, will hold a workshop for women called "Can You Take the Heat?" on June 11.

The workshop is being held for the second time in three years to make women aware that they can do the job of a firefighter, said Honolulu Fire Chief Attilio Leonardi.

Only six of HPD's 1,090 firefighters are women.

But the number of women taking the exam has been growing, from 95 in 1998 to 310 in 2002, thanks to the workshop.

The workshop covers the application process, physical conditioning, career opportunities in the Honolulu Fire Department and firehouse culture. Current female firefighters will attend the workshop to talk to attendees.

A maximum of 90 women will be accepted to each of two sessions, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Reservations are required by Wednesday at www4.honolulu.gov/ cityhallonline.

For more information, call 527-5571.