Name: Emma Williams
Station/Watch: Temple/Red
Age: 28
Height: 5ft 8”
Weight: 12.5 stone
Year
joined AF&RS: January 2004
Previous
job: Classroom assistant
Position
at AF&RS: Firefighter.
Hobbies: Rugby and eating
Favourite
food: Toast
Favourite
drink: Baileys and milk
Favourite
place: Beach or the mountains
Hero: Banana-man
Claim to
fame: None
Why did
you want to become a firefighter?
Never knowing
what’s going to happen tomorrow/next, to help people and to work
with a team of like-minded people.
Did you
have any fears about becoming a firefighter?
Yes, I was worried
I wouldn’t be strong enough.
Did you do
much physical training before joining AF&RS?
Yes, I went to my
local fire station and asked for some advice, I then started a
training programme, running and doing weights.
How hard
did you find training school?
Physically it was
fine as I had trained for it, but mentally I found it very hard
going back to studying intensively, but I put the hours in and got
through it.
How was
your first day on shift?
Absolutely
fabulous, my watch were amazing, really helpful and friendly and I
very quickly felt part of the team.
How do you
find working in a mainly male dominated workforce?
Smelly! No
seriously, although you work mainly with men everybody knows
everybody else, so some of the women in the service will soon
become close friends - you have best of both
worlds!
Is there
any support in place for female firefighters?
There is a female
support network if you want to get involved. The group discusses
all service matters and has the occasional social gathering. It is
great hear other peoples’ views and opinions.
What is
your most memorable moment at work?
My very first job
on my first ever night shift. A big ink factory went up and I was
part of the first team of two to go in wearing breathing apparatus.
I felt every emotion possible going in, and a massive grin once I
came
out!
What has
been you most embarrassing moment at work?
During the above
mentioned ink job I managed to tip ink all over myself while
searching around. Remember I could see nothing, well nearly
nothing. But after the ink tipping I definitely couldn’t see
anything! Oops!
If a
female said to you they wanted to join AF&RS what would your
response be?
Firstly to keep an
eye on when we are recruiting, so as not to miss out, because it’s
fairly specific when you can apply. I would then advise you to find
out exactly what the recruitment process is, and where possible,
find a way to practice the different tasks that will be set. That
will hopefully give you the best possible chance of success. I
would also say find some sort of exercise you enjoy doing and get
stuck in, because if you’re fit that’s one less thing to worry
about, plus you’ll look good, feel good and can eat as much as you
like!
I would also
suggest you speak to your local fire station and arrange a visit. I
visited three different stations before I joined and they were all
amazingly helpful and enthusiastic about me applying for a job in
AF&RS.
Do some research to find as much as possible out about AF&RS so
you know exactly what you’ll be doing as a firefighter, then you
can feel passionately about getting into the service because of the
good you will be doing and the help you can be to your community. I
love this job and I’m sure you would too - go for it, what have you
got to lose?