After 87 years, Ogdensburg gets a female firefighter

OGDENSBURG n For the first time since 1918, when the Ogdensburg Fire Department was founded, the the borough has a female firefighter. Eighteen-year-old Carolyn Sugar will begin her training with the next scheduled class starting in March of next year. She is now one of a 32-member force. "I was raised around it; I grew up with firefighters. It's in my family," said Sugar Her father, who is with the Stillwater department, has been her inspiration. "I've always looked up to him, and he's been a firefighter for 28 years," she said. Starting as a junior member of the Stillwater department, Sugar transferred to Ogdensburg and was voted into the department last May. A June graduate of Wallkill Valley Regional High School, she will be entering Sussex County Community College this semester to prepare for a major in criminal justice. Her career goal is to be a parole or probation officer. In addition to her regular college courses, she will be taking 220 hours of firefighting training at SCCC. Sugar is ready for what she says, "starts by the book and then it goes on to full contact." The training is divided equally between book learning and technical drills. "I guess you could say your life is on the line when you do this," she said. "Not every person can walk into a burning building." She is joined by two other young women, Jaime Cameron and Kori Bodle, who are both 15 years old and members of the junior organization. As junior firefighters, Cameron and Bodle are required to attend weekly drills to prepare them for their eventual acceptance into the volunteer department. Last Monday, they and their male counterparts were being schooled in the use of airpacks, the apparatus they must wear when entering a fire scene. Asked if they had any apprehension about what they will be expected to do, Cameron said, "I don't see it as fear. I'm a volunteer ready to save lives. If you have any fear you are not going to be able to do it." Unlike most members of the service groups, she does not have a family background, but says she was motivated to join by a friend, Ken Smith, former chief and now assistant engineer. "I have been friends with the family, and I told him I would be the first girl in the department," she said. "When I turned 15 in May, I was accepted. I guess you could say he's my inspiration." "I'm thrilled that a young person would be inspired by what I've done," said Smith. "I'm kind of overwhelmed, and I'm honored. I have faith in all the young ladies that they will be able to do the job as well as anyone. It's a matter of training, and I believe there is a place in the service for females. "It's good to see the younger generation is trying to help their fellow citizens by volunteering their time. The fire department is one of the greatest service organizations around." A sophomore at Wallkill Valley, Cameron plays on the basketball team, but, she says, "I put all my efforts into the fire department." Those efforts include a major commitment of time as she must attend two to three hours of weekly training drills plus monthly meetings. Firefighters also participate in fundraisers and other functions at the firehouse and do chores that range from shining the truck to washing mountains of dishes. Bodle has a family tradition in the department as both her dad, Bill, and grandfather, Ron Search, are members. "I have been to two or three calls," she said, "It's exciting." She shares her class time between Wallkill Valley and Sussex County Technical School in the cosmetology program, with hopes of being a hairdresser. She said that she had experienced some negative remarks about becoming a firefighter. "When a girl joins the fire department, all the guys think that girls can't do it," she said. "It just makes me more determined." Bodle said even her brother, who is also in the department, often picks on her. "One of the reasons is they thought I was a ‘girlie girl,' and I wanted to prove them wrong," she continued. Cameron agreed. "Any girl has to be prepared for a little teasing," she said. However, she added, the men in the department are all very supportive. "They are gold." Jim Western, advisor for the junior firefighters, said that while responding to a recent fire in Franklin, Cameron helped change the airpacks of those fighting the blaze. "Anyone who has any thoughts about doing this, should do it," Cameron said. "It's a great opportunity. It's one big family." "It's a wonderful experience," Bodle agreed. Acknowledging that there had been a prejudice against women in the department, Western said that more recently "things have turned around." "We didn't know how it was going to work, but they have such determination," he said. The women have been assisting the regular fire fighters on calls by rolling out the hose and changing airpacks among other things. The department has been invited and will participate as one of the lead groups at the state convention parade in Wildwood to honor Bill Pierce and other fire fighters who lost the lives in the line of duty.