Wildland firefighting provided a transformative opportunity for a young woman with a troubled past. Beginning at age 19, she worked for private contractor crews before joining the Solar Hotshots crew in 2002. As the only woman and an outsider, she faced challenges in a male-dominated environment. Despite the crew's rigid and conformist culture, her experiences contributed to a complex understanding of misogyny and personal identity. Her journey reflects resilience and the pursuit of self-discovery through the rigors of firefighting.
Wildland firefighting saved me from a life trajectory that would have led to permanent homelessness and addiction. My journey started when I was just 19.
I was the only woman on the Solar Hotshots crew, stepping into a rigid culture dominated by men, many of whom had never worked with women before.
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