"They're Just Never Told That They Can": Recruitment and Retention of Women in the Fire Service.

The percentage of females in the U.S. fire service is low. In 2018, only 8% of firefighters were women (National Fire Protection Association [NFPA], 2020). To better understand the reasons for this low participation rate, we analyzed responses from telephone interviews and focus groups conducted with 87 firefighters and fire service leaders in 2013. Analysis of these responses identified several reasons why it is so difficult to recruit and retain women firefighters. A better understanding of these reasons, including the unique challenges that women firefighters face, is essential to increasing and supporting their active participation in this profession. Tactics used to improve the recruitment and retention of women in the fire service are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]