ways to enjoy and

Rebecca “Becca” Eisel works full-time for North Memorial Ambulance in Alexandria. She also owns and operates her own lawn service. And she has been married to her wife for the past three years. She said they don’t have any kids, but she is the “coolest” aunt to her eight nieces and one nephew.

Q:How long have you been with the Kensington Fire Department and briefly describe your duties?

A:I have been with the Kensington Fire Department since 2018. I am the EMS coordinator for the department. I am a utility firefighter and can handle any task given to me. It took me over the winter (I think it was from October through March) two nights a week to take my Fire 1, Fire 2 and Hazmat testing.

Q:Why did you want to become a firefighter or what drew you to the job?

A:I have always wanted to help people. I joined the department to use my medical skills. I wanted to give back, so I focused on any skill to make me more useful in the community. The excitement I felt on my first call made me realize I wanted to be a firefighter.

Q:What part of your job is the most rewarding and what part is the most challenging?

A:The most rewarding part of being a firefighter is being able to help people. The most challenging part is volunteering for such a small community where everyone knows each other. More often than not, we know the people we are helping.

Q:What advice would you have for a young woman who is considering becoming a firefighter?

A:There are so many different aspects to being a firefighter. It’s not just about putting out fires. It’s so much more. We handle traffic at car accidents, gas leaks, stabilizing cars just before using the jaws of life and of course the occasional cat up a tree.

Q:What do you like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies?

A:My family is a very big part of my life. In the summer you can find me out on the water in one form or another. I like to wakeboard, water ski, jet ski and fish.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2019, 88,800 firefighters in the United States were female (8%). Of the career firefighters, 14,900 were female. There were also 73,900 volunteer firefighters who were female.

Source: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA®) U.S. Fire Department Profile report December 2021

SHANIA PEDERSEN

Shania Pedersen was born in Amberg, Germany, and raised all over the U.S. Having a German mother and a military father really brought a ton of experiences into her life. She speaks both German and English fluently and she is a citizen of both countries. Pedersen has lived in six different U.S. states and attended nine different schools – from Hawaii to New Jersey and many in-between.

She currently owns her own architectural drafting business in Alexandria – Northern Haus. The focus of her business is primarily residential new builds and remodels from lake homes, barndominiums, shops etc. She lives in Alexandria with her fiancé, Jordan Thoennes, who is also with the Alexandria Fire Department. They are currently planning for their wedding in 2023.

Q:How long have you been with the Alexandria Fire Department and briefly describe your duties?

A:I have been with the AFD since the beginning of 2020. My duties are fairly consistent for most of the fire department, and I am continuously working on improving my knowledge and skills by looking up to all the seniority above me. This includes responding to calls, being able to spot hazards when arriving at scenes, engineering water from the trucks, knowing how to safely and properly perform vehicle extrication, operating equipment such as aerial ladders, hydraulic/battery/manual tools, hoses and SCBAs, inspect scenes of fire or accident to identify causes, and clean/ maintain our equipment and tools. PEDERSEN continued on 22

JENNIFER OLSON

Jennifer Olson works at Beverage Wholesalers in Alexandria. She has been living in Alexandria for more than 10 years.

then joined the fire department, first as an EMT and then as a firefighter.

Q:What part of your job is the most rewarding and what part is the most challenging?

A:Our department responds to more medical calls than fire calls. The most rewarding part is to be able to make a difference to someone on a medical call, to help them or their family members. The most challenging part is being able to respond to calls day or night. Oftentimes I am out of town and end up missing calls. We do not have shifts because we are volunteers, so we are always on call.

Q:What advice would you have for a young woman who is considering becoming a firefighter?

A:My advice for a young woman who wants to be a firefighter is to go for it! But firefighter cancer rates are high, so protect yourself on every call.

Q:What do you like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies?

A:In my free time, I like to bike ride with my dog in tow. My dog, Bella, is a certified therapy dog and we visit hospitals, clinics and the Alexandria College in our spare time, cheering up patients and students.

I also am an avid skier and am out at Andes Tower Hills in the winter working as a National Ski Patroller. I spend as much time as possible traveling, and take at least six trips a year to various places. I recently went to Kenya, Africa with the Africa Fire Mission to help teach at the fire academy there.

Q:How long have you been with the Alexandria Fire Department and briefly describe your duties?

A:I joined the Alexandria Fire Department as a probationary firefighter in April 2018 and in April 2019, I was sworn into the department as a full-time volunteer firefighter. To become a firefighter you must first be able to pass the agility test. Once that is completed you need to take classes to learn general knowledge of the firefighting techniques, tools used and smoke patterns among other important information. You then need to pass the Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 tests. Also you need to get your emergency medical responder certification. Classes continue throughout your entire department career so that you will always stay up to date with the latest tools and structures.

Q:Why did you want to become a firefighter or what drew you to the job?

A:The reason I wanted to join the department was a desire to help the community. Also I wanted to be a strong role model for my kids.

Q:What part of your job is the most rewarding and what part is the most challenging?

A:The biggest reward of this job comes with the extension of my family. The department is such an amazing group of individuals. They are so welcoming and helpful. They always have your back whether on the fire ground or in your personal life. We take care of not only each other but also each other’s families. The hardest part is seeing fellow community members in tough times, when they may have lost something close to their heart. Each call we go on imprints in your mind.

Q:What advice would you have for a young woman who is considering becoming a firefighter?

A:I definitely feel that if other young women are interested in joining the fire department and have the drive to work hard and help others, they should. It is worthwhile, very rewarding and humbling. You can do it if you have the right mindset and drive. Don’t let anyone hold you back from doing what you want to do.

Q:What do you like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies?

A:In my spare time I like to go camping and hiking. I love to relax by the lake and watch my kids and my dogs have fun in the water. I also never miss out on going for a long motorcycle ride with my husband. If it wasn’t for my family being there and so supportive of me, my dreams of being with the department would not be possible. They have always been my rock through the good and bad. I can’t thank them enough for that.

ANDERSON continued from page 4

“The most rewarding part is to be able to make a difference to someone on a medical call, to help them or their family members.” KARIN ANDERSON