Why visibility matters for women in the fire service

For many women considering a career in the fire service, seeing someone who looks like them can make all the difference. That’s something London Fire Brigade firefighter Siobhan Priest understands well. Through her social media platform, @thefiremum, she shares an honest insight into life on the frontline, celebrating women in the fire service, encouraging others to consider the profession and opening up conversations about the issues that affect women throughout their careers.

As part of our #SheServesToo campaign, we spoke to Siobhan about representation, building supportive networks and why visibility still matters.

Why visibility matters

Despite progress across the sector, women remain significantly under represented in the UK’s fire and rescue services. For Siobhan, simply seeing women in operational roles can have a powerful impact on those considering the career.

Through @thefiremum, she shares moments from station life, training and incidents, giving people a realistic picture of the role while creating space for conversations that aren’t always visible within the profession.

“It’s about visibility, but it’s also about celebration. Women in the fire service do exactly the same job as men while many of us are also raising children, caring for family members or managing health conditions. That’s something worth celebrating because we’ve earned it.”

Siobhan Priest, Firefighter, London Fire Brigade.

Alongside showcasing operational life, Siobhan believes it’s equally important to talk openly about the issues that affect women throughout their careers.

She points to the progress London Fire Brigade has made in recent years, including enhanced maternity support, menopause policies, free period products and the creation of an endometriosis support group after colleagues recognised there was a need for better understanding and support. While those changes are encouraging, she believes there is still more to do across the wider fire sector to ensure women feel supported at every stage of their careers.

“I’d love to see the progress we’ve made in London rolled out across the country. Things are improving, but if we want more women to join and stay in the fire service, we have to make sure the support is there throughout their careers, not just when they first join.”

Building a supportive community

For Siobhan, support isn’t just about workplace policies. It’s also about creating opportunities for women to connect with one another, share experiences and realise they aren’t facing challenges alone.

That sense of community is something she has found through the Women in the Fire Service networking weekend, which brings together firefighters from across the UK to learn from one another, build professional relationships and support one another throughout their careers.

She is also involved with UK Pink Firefighters, a national group of serving firefighters that raises awareness of breast cancer through fundraising, education and support. While breast cancer is often associated with women, the group is keen to highlight that men can also be diagnosed and works to support anyone affected by the disease. For Siobhan, initiatives like these demonstrate the importance of looking after those who dedicate their careers to protecting others.

Changing perceptions

Representation remains one of the strongest themes throughout Siobhan’s work. Even now, she says members of the public are often surprised to discover that she drives fire engines, attends incidents and carries out exactly the same operational role as her male colleagues.

Rather than becoming frustrated by those conversations, she sees them as an opportunity to challenge assumptions and demonstrate that firefighting is a career open to everyone with the commitment and ability to do the job.

“People still ask me, ‘Do you actually go into fires?’ or ‘Do you do everything the men do?’ I always laugh because, of course I do. Hopefully one day those questions won’t need asking anymore because seeing women in the fire service will simply be the norm.”

As emergency services continue working to attract more diverse workforces, Siobhan believes authentic conversations have an important role to play. Whether that’s through social media, networking events or simply being visible on the frontline, she hopes more women will feel confident enough to picture themselves in the role. For her, that’s ultimately what #SheServesToo is all about.

“If sharing our stories helps even one person believe they belong here, it’s worth doing.”

To read similar articles, check out our People and skills channel.

This article is part of #SheServesToo, our campaign celebrating the stories of women across the emergency services. #SheServesToo is proudly supported by PBI. Find out more about PBI and its work here. If you have a story to share, get in touch with the EST team.

Inspired by stories like Siobhan’s, we’re growing our #SheServesToo community. If you’re passionate about championing women across the emergency services, become a #SheServesToo Ambassador and help raise awareness, share experiences and inspire others. Sign up here.