The Clear Lake Fire Dept. has 28 members, four of which are female.  But once they don their protective turnout gear, no one would be able to tell the difference between the women and their male colleagues.  This is, perhaps, unless you’re a patient experiencing a medical emergency.

“They are especially helpful when a female patient is nervous or anxious at the scene of a medical or accident,” says Fire Chief Ron Koren, who has been with the department for 44 years.  “Just having them talk to the individual can make the patient’s experience a little less traumatic.”   

Twenty year firefighter Kari Mechtel agrees that a woman’s touch can come in handy during medical calls.

“At accidents, sometimes a female voice is more calming,” says Mechtel, a familiar face in Clear Lake as she also serves as the City’s Clerk.  “Sometimes at calls, the person is just a little more relaxed when the females show up.”

It’s a difference that Firefighter Barb Rucks has witnessed during her five years on the department.  Because she is a nurse in her day job, Rucks possesses the special skills that can help to make scary situations a little more manageable for the victims of an accident.

“I see a difference sometimes in the reactions of children,” says Rucks.  “For them to be able to talk to a woman — the child can be more comfortable.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, just 4% of career firefighters and 11% of volunteer firefighters are female.  In Clear Lake, women make up 14% of the department, but in duties, responsibilities and service, the women say they are identical to their male colleagues.

“We train equally — from firefighting to washing the trucks —  we are all equal when it comes to doing those things,” says Jill Lietha, a 17 year member of the department who joined at the same time as her husband, who is now a CLFD Officer.  

“We are respected — the guys respect us — there’s no second guessing.”

Lietha says she was recruited by an Assistant Chief at the time she joined, but was targeted because of her skills and commitment to the community more so than her gender.  Koren says there hasn’t been any specific recruitment of females at his department, but the strength and skill of the female firefighters themselves is the best advertising.

“Having females on the department speaks for itself to any female who might be interested in applying,” says Koren.    “They have all accepted the challenge and have had little problem performing their duties . . .  being male or female has no bearing on what is expected of every firefighter.”

Camaraderie

Captain Colleen Knafla has a unique perspective on the department, which she has been a part of for 14 years.  As an officer, she is able to see firsthand the close knit relationships that develop between firefighters over time.

“There is a camaraderie that we share with each other,” says Knafla.  “I do think there is a special bond between the women.”

Rucks agrees, noting that working closely with the others and making an impact in the community leads to a sense of fulfillment.

“I always say it’s a fun job and it’s rewarding,” says Rucks, who first met several of the firefighters when they responded to a call in her neighborhood and she was already on scene helping perform CPR. “I encourage my co-workers all the time to join the department in their community.”

Community

Each firefighter mentioned “community” as a reason they wanted to get involved with the department, noting their service as being a tangible way they could give back to others.  Being able to help their neighbors also has led to many of their most memorable moments.

“My most rewarding call was probably my first time clamping an umbilical cord and assisting in a birth,” remembers Mechtel.  “Everybody has calls that they remember . . . it can be stressful, but there are also fun times on calls.”

Rucks remembers a drug related medical call where she helped a young man who later messaged her and thanked her personally for the assistance she offered.

For Knafla, the best times involve helping children, like the one who later visited her house and offered her a “thank you” for a job well done.

“The training is provided and we get to learn new things and utilize those skills,” says Knafla, who also notes there can be an emotional side to the calls. “Sometimes we know the people we are trying to help or we’ve gone to church with them and it hits close to home.”

Tough Times

It’s those calls where the firefighters know the people they are trying to help that can lead to difficult memories.  Because Clear Lake is a small town and most people seemingly know each other, there’s a bit of a pause each time there is a call for help.

“When that pager goes off, you are hoping you don’t hear your own address or one of a family member,” says Mechtel.  

Lietha agrees, and also points out that the department provides help for those who may experience trauma as part of their duties.

“The toughest calls are when it’s someone you know,” says Lietha.  “But Chief [Koren] is great about getting together for debriefs, even if they are informal, to make sure people are able to process what happened.”

Sometimes, unfortunately, it’s too late to help the victim of an accident so the focus changes to providing whatever support they can for the family.

Mechtel still remembers one call in particular where a 16 year old had passed at the scene.  

“We stayed with her,” remembers Mechtel.  “All we could do is tell her dad that she was never alone.”

Family

In those tough times and even during the good ones, each firefighter pointed to family as being a key for being able to be an effective member of the department.

Once the Lietha’s had children, they took turns responding to calls so the other could take care of their growing family.

“We also have a great family support system and even friends and neighbors that would help,” says Jill.  “It really helped to have people we could count on to help get the kids off the bus or to help with dinner or whatever we needed.”

Rucks’ children have come and picked her up when she was walking the dog and brought her to the station to respond to calls.

“Family is key — if you didn’t have a supportive family it would be difficult to join,” says Knafla.

Thankfully for the Clear Lake area families, there is a dedicated group of men and women who respond and provide professional care each time their pager signals the call for help.