Fire Engineer Melissa Hillis

Anytime I go to a dinner party, or get into a conversation in line at the grocery store the topic always comes up, “What’s it like to be a woman working in a fire station?” People are intrigued by women in predominantly male professions, especially one as physically and emotionally demanding as the occupation of a firefighter. Over the years I’ve noticed the line of questioning seems to have the same general theme, and that the public has common questions and curiosities about life as a woman firefighter. Here are the top five questions I usually get asked:

• Do you have to pass the same physical tests as the men to get a job as a firefighter? Yes. Women at the Beverly Hills Fire Department are held to the exact same physical and intellectual standards as men applying for the same job.
• Where do you sleep? We have dorm style bedrooms with doors that shut for privacy. Some ranks such as Captain and Engineer have their own bedrooms. The rank of firefighter share, two to a room. When there is another woman on shift with me, I room with her; otherwise I have my own room.
• Where do you shower? All fire stations in Beverly Hills have been modernized to include both men and women’s locker rooms, just like an office or the gym where you workout.
• Do the men treat you well? Yes. Unbelievably well. I am treated like a sister. We laugh together, work hard together, and treat each other with mutual respect. Here at BHFD I have one sister and over 75 brothers!
• What is the hardest thing about working for the fire department? People have a misconception about this one. The hardest thing about working for the Beverly Hills Fire Department is not the physical demands or the fact that we run into burning buildings when everyone else is running out. The hardest thing is being away from our families. I have 8 year old twins, Dane and Hannah. In the last 31 days I have worked 16. Many people think that isn’t much but let me put it in another way… we work 24 hour shifts so my 16 days works out to 96 hours a week compared to most professions that work a 40 hour work week. Sometimes the public may argue that I sleep for some of those hours, which is true. But here is what I missed last month while being at work: I missed 16 family dinners, 16 bedtime stories, 32 kisses goodnight, 32 smiling morning faces saying “Good morning mommy! What’s for breakfast?” Over the last few years I have missed 2 Christmas holidays, their first day of kindergarden, their first grade play, Dane’s first ride on a surf board, Hannah’s first ballet recital, and the list goes on and on.

I honor and enjoy my commitment to serve the citizens of Beverly Hills but with that commitment comes sacrifice. So next time you see a firefighter standing in line at the grocery store or getting a cup of coffee to stay awake through a 24 hour shift, thank them. Thank them for leaving their families all night long, so that they may take care of your families when you need them.