LADDERS to ADVANCEMENT
Firefighters: Antoinette Dowds and Joelle Lesniak making strides at Centre Square Volunteers: Most local fire companies need more manpower to keep things running
WHITPAIN >> As female firefighters in a male-dominated field, Antoinette Dowds and Joelle Lesniak believe anyone can be a firefighter.
Lesniak, one of the three fulltime career firefighters at Centre Square Fire Company, was the first female volunteer firefighter at Oreland Fire Company at age 16.
“I broke the system,” said Lesniak. “A lot of fire companies used to have bylaws that said women could not volunteer.”
Lesniak has been working at Centre Square Fire Company since 2000, and currently serves as a Captain, firefighter and paramedic. At Oreland Fire Company, she is also a Captain and volunteer.
“No one is the wrong age, gender or race to join our team,” said Dowds, who has been a volunteer firefighter at Centre Square for five years now.
Size also doesn’t matter to succeed as a firefighter. Lesniak has a small stature at 5-foot-1, but doesn’t let size stop her from doing her job.
“If it’s in your heart, you can make a difference,” said Lesniak. “It’s all about where your passion falls. Anyone can do this.”
Although size doesn’t matter, strength is necessary to wear the gear and use the equipment.
“You have to know your limits and what you can and can’t do, and understand your strengths and weaknesses,” said Lesniak.
Emotional strength is vital to firefighting as well. It helps Lesniak and Dowds go into dangerous situations with the right headspace to protect and serve others, and comfort the community in need. Ultimately, Dowds encourages other women to just do it.
“Firefighting should be an inspiration for all women, younger or older, everywhere, to demonstrate the value of strength and courage,” said Dowds.
Firefighting is more accepting for women now than it used to be. When Lesniak first joined Oreland, she had to build up rapport and trust with her fellow firefighters. Once she earned their trust, she still had to earn the trust of other fire companies as well.
“When we went on mutual aid