“Few women fight wildfires. That’s not because they’re afraid of flames.”
PROFILES IN COURAGE
Testifying before Congress was the last thing Kelly Martin wanted to do. But for decades she had been keeping a secret. Early in her U.S. Forest Service career, she had been victimized by a sexual predator; her co-worker at the Grand Canyon. When new reports of assault at the park surfaced in 2016, Kelly could no longer be silent. So she went to Congress and told the world that these horrific experiences are far too common among women in wildland firefighting.
Kelly’s bravery earned her a spot among Time magazine’s Silence Breakers, which launched the #MeToo movement. It also fueled the creation of the annual Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (WTREX), a place where women train shoulder to shoulder to develop their skills as firefighters and leaders.
ANCHOR POINT follows Kelly and helitack fighter Lacey England through the 2019 fire season as they navigate turning points in their careers.
Kelly is in her final season as Chief of Fire and Aviation at Yosemite National Park. It’s a prestigious position; one previously only held by men. After 35 years in fire, Kelly is grateful for a challenging and fulfilling career, but she also wonders if she’s made a difference. Will the next generation of women have an easier path?
Lacey has been rappelling from helicopters to fires in remote mountain forest for 10 years Often She is the only woman on a crew of 20. Putting out fires is the easy part. The real battle is overcoming the disrespect and unequal treatment she feels daily.
Lacey’s been chafing against fire culture since her first day on the job. Changing it, however, has proven to be a slow and frustrating pursuit. More than once, she thought she might quit. But after meeting Kelly at the first WTREX in 2016, Lacey felt a renewed sense of determination and hope. That’s kept her on the fire line for a few more years. Still, as each new season begins, Lacey asks: Should I stay and keep pushing, or is it time to find a new path.
ANCHOR POINT looks hopefully to a future in which the culture of wildland firefighting provides every firefighter with an equal and safe seat at the table — a future built though the determination of Kelly, Lacey and the dedicated women of WTREX around the world.
CONGRESS & THE SILENCE BREAKERS
“Women have had it with bosses and co-workers who not only cross boundaries but don't even seem to know that boundaries exist. They've had it with the fear of retaliation, of being blackballed, of being fired from a job they can't afford to lose. They've had it with the code of going along to get along. They've had it with men who use their power to take what they want from women. These silence breakers have started a revolution of refusal, gathering strength by the day, and in the past two months alone, their collective anger has spurred immediate and shocking results: nearly every day, CEOs have been fired, moguls toppled, icons disgraced. In some cases, criminal charges have been brought…”
Read More: https://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-2017-silence-breakers/
WTREX
“Women comprise a mere 10 percent of the national wildland fire workforce. A major goal of the annual Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (WTREX) is to expand career and leadership opportunities.
WTREX events bring together women and men from TNC and similar organizations, state and federal agencies, tribes and universities. Ranging from rookie firefighters to experienced burn managers, the participants engage in 10 days of hands-on training, networking and mentoring in forest landscapes across the U.S….”
Read More: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/virginia/stories-in-virginia/trailblazers-women-in-fire/