The towns of Quesnel, 100 Mile House and Williams Lake have a hybrid fire department – the size of the municipality requiring a mix of a few paid and a large force of volunteer firefighters.
“I’m heartened by how many women are choosing the fire service as a rewarding career.
Barb Bachmeier is not the chief of her Bouchie Lake VFD, but she is the elected director for Area B at the Cariboo Regional District table.
Many employers like their employees to be firefighters as it gives them another valuable skill set.
One of the reasons those who get paid are referred to as “career” firefighters and not “professional” firefighters is even those on volunteer crews are professional.
“What I would tell a young girl dreaming of being a firefighter is that it’s not an impossible dream,” Bachmeier said.