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The article presents information about Fire Department of New York City (FDNY). To say that the FDNY has a shortage of women firefighters is an understatement. Of the 11,500 firefighters that make up New York City's bravest, only 32 are women. With nearly a third of these women eligible to retire, and not an equal number being hired to replace them, there's concern that the progress made by the historic 1982 sex discrimination lawsuit, forcing the department to hire its first women firefighters, has been reversed.

Focuses on the recruitment of minority and women firefighters in New York City. Criticism received by the Fire Department from the Black and Hispanic Caucus and Women's Caucus on the issue; Desire of Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta to have the Department reflect the ethnic and gender composition of the city; Recruitment expenses of the agency.

Focuses on the concession of Douglas white, a senior Fire Department official in New York City, on the need of the fire department to do better in recruiting and hiring women and blacks as firefighters. Decline in the minority recruits of Fire Academy classes; Criticism of city councilwoman Yvette D. Clarke, on the failure of the department to earmark any money for advertising or promotional efforts to attract minority candidates and for shutting down one program; Observation of Clarke on the lack separation of the bathroom for women in the city's firehouses.

Focuses on Rochelle T. Jones, who has been with the New York City Fire Department for more than 25 years. Discussion of her career and promotion to battalion chief, a coveted supervisory position; Recognition of Jones for being the first woman selected as battalion chief; Her views on becoming a symbol of women's success in gaining access to positions previously dominated by men.

Discusses Sigalit Brunn, widow of New York City firefighter Andrew Brunn. Loss of her husband in the collapse of the twin towers during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York; Decision to train for the firefighters test to take her husband's place; Experience in the Israeli Army.

Reports on the lack of minorities and women in the New York City Fire Department. Discussion of the Fire Academy Cadet Program which is designed to help groups historically underrepresented in fire fighting ranks; Statistics of minorities and women enrolled in the program; Criticism that the program still takes on too many white men.

Reports that despite an expanded effort to recruit athletic women for careers as firefighters in New York City, New York, officials say that few were able to pass the test required in order to be hired. The low numbers of women on the force, and criticism which has been caused by it; Efforts to recruit women; Comments on women's struggles with the physical part of the test; Outlook for the situation.