Visiting Denver in April means being prepared for any kind of weather, and the 500 attendees at the 10th International Conference of Fire Service Women saw it all. From fighting fire in the snow on Tuesday to a sunny Saturday afternoon in shorts and T-shirts at the ballpark, the weather was as diverse as the conference itself.

Fire service women and men came from almost every U.S. state, as well as from Great Britain, Australia and the Philippines to attend six days of workshops on topics including job skills, leadership development, interpersonal issues, diversity management, media relations and more. Some of the women firefighters had less than two years on the job, while others had more than three decades, but all of them—wildland and structural, career and volunteer—came to Denver to learn from one another and share their experiences.

The overwhelming impression of Women in the Fire Service conferences is always how positive they feel. Conference workshops allowed attendees to further their fire service education in a supportive environment, and it was clear in Denver that everyone had come to do just that. The women who took part in the all-day live fire training session, for example, had only one complaint—and it was not about the snow. It was that the session should have been two days long, instead of just one.

At the opening ceremony on Thursday, IAFF President Harold A. Schaitberger and IAFC First Vice President Ernie Mitchell were among the many dignitaries welcoming the attendees, followed by WFS co-founder Linda Willing, who gave the keynote address. She encouraged her listeners to start a conversation—to make a point to talk with someone they might not normally talk with—“because you never know where it might lead.” From the enthusiastic networking that took place almost nonstop for the next four days, it was clear her advice was taken to heart.

Supported by a grant from the Colorado Women’s Foundation, free child care was offered throughout the conference. The Colorado Division of Fire Safety provided the audiovisual equipment and crews as well as financial support for conference events and scholarships for local fire fighters. Hensel-Phelps Construction, Scott Health & Safety, Pierce Manufacturing/Front Range Fire Apparatus and the Sutphen Corporation also provided significant corporate support. The Denver Fire Department, under Chief Rod Juniel, hosted the conference, and many other local fire agencies were involved in planning and logistical support. Most importantly, more than 100 faculty members donated their time in order to make the conference possible.

WFS’ international conferences are held every two years, so the next one will be in the spring of 2005. The date and location of next year’s Fire Service Women’s Leadership Training Seminar will be announced at the end of June; call 608/233-4768 or visit www.wfsi.org for information.