ANKENY – Des Moines Area Community College is offers a degree for Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
The school knows that firefighting is a male-dominated profession, but they’re working to change that.
“What we’re hoping to do is open more doors to more people that are interested in this,” instructor Brent Conklin said. “You don’t have to be a big, brawny guy. It’s about technique, and that’s what we’re going to teach you here.
The only female currently enrolled in the program is Samantha Reisinger, but that’s not stopping her from working hard.
“I’ts hard work, it is, but it’s just whatever you put in you’ll get out,” Reisinger said.
DMACC’s curriculum includes 13 courses, and they say that fire departments should be a reflection of their community.