Women in the Paris firehouse | France 3 | Des racines et des ailes

Eight young women, ages 19 to 23, attend the military academy of Villeneuve-Saint-Georges in hopes of being the first women to become members of the prestigious Paris fire brigade which up until now has been composed only of men. For four months, these women will have to go through a rigorous physical and moral selection in order to become, perhaps, the first women fire fighters in Paris. But how many of them will make it to the end? A third of young men give up before the end of the training. Too hard! Will these eight candidates be able to reach the same level as the men? We followed them through-out their training. Cristèle is 23. She is the oldest and the most active sportswoman of the eight. She knows all about the brigade—her father and her brother are both Paris firemen. She knows that the arrival of women in this man’s world won’t be easy. Malory is 19. She’s the smallest of them all: 1,62 m (5.3 inches). A size never seen among the hulking fire fighters. The profession of fire fighter attracts her but she’s apprehensive about life in the fire station. Sandra is 22 She’s from the region of Franche-Comté, France where she has worked as a volunteer fire fighter in her village, Audincourt. Becoming a Paris fire fighter is her dream but will she have the strength to make it? Along with them, Tiphaine, Lydie, Laetitia, Claire and Mélanie—all of whom will have to fight hard to earn their place in this world of men and perhaps become the first women fire fighters.