Recent wildfires in Los Angeles highlight the need for effective firefighting over diversity initiatives
Sure, female firefighters are doing their best, but when it comes to battling flames, it’s all about having the right tools and support. For years, LA has been focused on recruiting more women, thinking it would somehow improve firefighting efforts.
Back in 2022, the former mayor launched a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Bureau for the LAFD. But it’s hard to see how this focus on diversity helps when lives are on the line.
In a cringeworthy video from 2019, Deputy Chief Kristine Larson suggested that if a man can’t be lifted from a fire, he must have made poor choices. That’s not what people want to hear when they’re in danger.
Most folks just want someone who can help them, regardless of their background. If a Filipino immigrant’s home was saved, they likely didn’t care about the crew’s diversity.
The push for more women in the LAFD hasn’t led to significant changes. In 2020, women made up only 3.3% of the force, a slight increase from 2.9% in 2013.
Across the U.S., only about 5% of firefighters are women. But is that really a problem? Many physically demanding jobs are still male-dominated, like logging and fishing.
Men make up the majority of workplace fatalities, too. Does that mean we need more women in those roles? It’s just how things are, and it doesn’t make one gender better than the other.
Camille Paglia once pointed out that men often do the tough, dangerous jobs. And yes, that includes firefighting. It’s a reality that shouldn’t be clouded by ideological agendas.
