Station captain Melanie Palmer said she is particularly keen to promote the vacancy to women in the Lithgow area. Ms Palmer is the first woman to ever captain the Lithgow brigade after serving with the Firies for twenty years. 

“I think from my perspective and not just my perspective but other people in the service, women can bring a different kind of approach to different incidents. They have more empathy and they sometimes can lighten a room, it’s just a different atmosphere, they bring something different to the table,” she said. 

“And they all can do the same job - it doesn’t matter what it is they can do it too.” 

Lithgow’s latest recruit Jenna Conran said she wasn’t aware firefighting was a possible career for her. 

“I had a bit of interest in it about a year beforehand but no opportunities came up and then I moved here and met Mel, and she sort of opened my eyes.

“A lot of girls don’t realise they can [be firefighters], like it was never really something I realized I could do until meeting Mel, and she was like ‘No, I am the captain! Of course you can do it!”

Ms Conran moved to Lithgow 12 months ago to work full-time as a horticulturalist at the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens in Mt Tomah. She said she was looking for ways to contribute to her new home town. 

“It’s cool being able to help the community and get to know people,” she said.

“I think the whole emergency situation thing excited me a lot. Just being able to be there for people is really attractive to me.” 

To become a retained firefighter Ms Conran had to undergo training in Wellington. 

“It’s hard but it’s worth it in the end. It was lots of fun and they set you up with what to expect when you go out on jobs. We learnt about HAZMAT, first aid, and general firefighting techniques.

“I think having the training behind me has helped me with stuff outside of the brigade like first aid situations. It’s been good not having anything big happen straight away, I feel like I have eased into it.”

Captain Melanie Palmer said the station would be holding an information evening on Tuesday, February 26, for those interested in joining the Lithgow brigade. 

“You don’t need experience because we train you up with everything you need to know to turn out to an incident. 

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“Jenna’s been great because she’s fully motivated. She has lots of confidence because in her mind she wanted to do it, pushed herself and has got there.

“It’s not unreachable for females, or anyone.”

Ms Conran encouraged anyone interested in the role to 'give it a go’. 

“You do have to manage it with your work, home and social life but the brigade keeps me really excited to be here, you never know when you are going to get a call.

“It’s sort of just opened up a whole lot of people I wouldn’t have known, it’s another support system you’ve got and it’s really cool to be part of.” 

The information night for the retained firefighter position will be held on February 26 between 6-8pm at 363 Lithgow fire station on Cook Street. Drop in between those times to hear about the role.