First woman firefighter named

In a department that has traditionally been populated by men, the gender barrier has been broken with the first woman to be added to the roster of the Mountain Home Volunteer Fire Department.

Three new firefighters have joined the team, qualifying after months of intense training. Bob Newer, Elsa Guillen and Chuck Garvey were welcomed by city officials recently as the department added two new positions to bring the total number to 33.

It has been nearly a year since the department first started to accept applications to fill a single position left open when a former firefighter retired from the department. And for the first time there was an application submitted by a woman. Five candidates were chosen to serve as "chasers," training and working with the department to determine who would fill that vacancy.

Working and training along with seasoned firefighters, each of the candidates had to meet stringent requirements to qualify for the job.

"All of them proved to be extremely qualified," said Chief Phil Gridley, noting only a few points separated each of the candidates.

But there was only a single position open and a decision had to be made.

The volunteer firefighters have traditionally 'voted' for new members to join their team, a practice which could prejudice the hiring process. As city employees, they needed to follow the hiring policy that applied to all departments and it put the department in tough position. Would the recommendation be viewed as biased with a woman candidate for the first time.

That was when Mountain Home Mayor Joe McNeal suggested adding two additional firefighter slots to the department. By hiring the top three candidates, the department could fill its needs and avoid the perception of gender bias.

For Guillen, it was never a issue of gender. "I just always wanted to be a firefighter, to help serve the community and do my part to protect the community. I never thought of it as gender thing. I knew I could do it and wanted the opportunity to show that I can be an asset to the department and the community. I am really grateful the department is giving me the opportunity to prove it."

Each of the new firefighters noted the support of their families in helping them achieve their goal to join the department. With a firefighter being always on call, it has a big impact on the entire family.

Neuer, 33, who is employed by Brenenstahl Plumbing, said he had always wanted to be a firefighter. So when the opportunity to apply for the position was presented, he was eager to respond.

Garvey, 25, recently separated from the Air Force and is currently employed by Mountain Valley Maintenance. He recalled how as a kid he would hang around the fire department in his home town of Scranton, Pa., and watch his uncles and cousins as they worked. Becoming a firefighter like them is filling a dream.

Each of the three new firefighters expressed a love of the community and a desire to serve and protect it.

The increase of two positions within the department has created a problem for the Mountain Home Rural Fire Protection District. The district does not have the money for two additional firefighters. Two more positions do not just add to the wage costs, but also the training, clothing and equipment for the two additional positions. With no funding except its levy, the district's budget cannot automatically expand to cover the expenses. So the district will include only one new firefighter to fill the single vacant position. As positions become available, as a result of retirement, for example, one of the other city firefighters could be added to the rolls.