The best way to describe the feeling at this conference was intensity. From firefighters to officers to chiefs, they filled the workshops, the hallways and the lounge at night -- talking, listening and networking. These were first responders who fought hard to achieve goals of education and fitness and were committed to proving their worth.

Topics of conference workshops ranged from fireground tactics and officer development to the psychological aspects of the job. The workshops included strategic and tactical considerations of strip-mall fires and structural firefighting to hands-on animal rescue and vehicle extrication. It was six days and 76 classes of good, solid info on being a better firefighter, officer and chief.

The Fire Department Instructors' Conference in Indianapolis?

No, it was the 11th biannual International Conference of Fire Service Women.

The theme of the conference was "Courage and Commitment." It took both to be one of the male firefighters, captains or fire chiefs in the minority at this conference of more than 350 attendees.

Being in the minority is never easy. Being a rookie in your first days on the job -- any job -- or the spouse attending your other half's company function is not easy either, but you know it's temporary. When you commit to a career in a demanding field where you know you will be in the minority, you also make a commitment to an inner resource that can either strengthen you or make you brittle.

A Canadian fire chief attending the WFS conference told me a woman firefighter in his department committed suicide last year. He was attending the conference to learn more about the challenges of women in the fire service.

I moderated a panel of fire chiefs on "What the Fire Chief Expects of You." The four chiefs on the panel included Chief Bett Clark, Bernalillo (N.M.) County Fire Departmentt; Chief Becky Denlinger, Cobb County (Ga.) Fire & Rescue; Chief Bonnie Bleskachek, Minneapolis Fire Department; and Chief Debra Pryor, Berkeley (Calif.) Fire Department.

As for what traits they looked for in a firefighter, the chiefs agreed that maturity was most important. Other characteristics included a proactive manner, respect and trust; the chiefs also agreed that some traits are learned and some are earned. FIRE CHIEF will include excerpts of the panelists' comments at the WFS conference in an upcoming issue. The topic has no gender, color or boundaries.

In the 19 years that I have been professionally affiliated with fire chiefs, I've seen significant changes in the those taking the helm. Today's new fire chiefs started their careers in the past 15 or 20 years, during a time when issues of diversity were 10 years down the road, technology was on fast-forward, and education was paramount to career development. Through Executive Fire Officer programs and Harvard Fellowships, today's fire chiefs have a better understanding of the corporate parallels of fire administration. The IAFC and IAFF efforts have encouraged an awareness of physical and mental fitness and new chiefs have had a steady diet of taking care of Chief Alan Brunacini's favorite customer, "Mrs. Smith."

Based on the wide scope of programs offered at the WFS conference, I would suggest other minority fire service organizations -- African-Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics -- consider co-locating with the WFS bi-annual conference. Many of the programs offered at the WFS conference would be applicable and valuable to other minorities. Pooling resources might provide a better educational opportunity for those who have the courage and commitment to a new fire service.

Courage and commitment. That's what the fire service is all about, isn't it?

Janet Wilmoth, Editor
jwilmoth@primediabusiness.com