JFRD wants to recruit more women, stops in at local CrossFit gyms

Jacksonville's Fire and Rescue Department is working to recruit more women and they're going to CrossFit gyms in hopes of finding them.

In a presentation to the city council members JFRD Chief Kurtis Wilson said the national average for female firefighters is 5 percent.

Here in Jacksonville the number is 7 percent, but still Wilson says they have a strategy

“I always wanted to be a firefighter since I was a little kid," JFRD Engineer Regena Manasco said.

For Manasco her dream of being a firefighter became a reality when she was 18.

Over her 20 year career, that dream saw her break barriers across Florida.

“I’ve worked for two fire departments where I was the only female on the department," Manasco said, but that didn’t stop her and eventually Manasco ended up at Jacksonville Fire Rescue.

“When I first came on the job I probably would have known every female on the job or at least heard her name. Now there are plenty," said Manasco.

JFRD says seven percent of the department are women.

In May Action News Jax reporter Michael Yoshida was told that here were 86 women in a variety of positions, which included 1 Division Chief, 8 Captains and 19 lieutenants.

In an April presentation to the City Council Fire Chief Wilson said it’s a challenge to recruit women, but they had a new strategy including recruiting at gyms and cross fit facilities.

Manasco said the strategy could work, but she says being a firefighter's not just about being fit. She said you have to be mentally strong as well.

"You hang out with a bunch of guys it’s just like having a bunch of brothers. Everything’s not always perfect. You fight, you get a long but you still love each in the end," Mansaco said.

JFRD says this week they had five new women start working for the department.

Cox Media Group