FOUR Wee County girls got a taste of what life is like in the fire service when they attended a three-day outreach programme in Alloa last week.

Sisters Isobel and Nikkita McDonald, Bobbie-Jo Kennedy and Holly Carruthers, all from the Clackmannanshire Secondary Schools Support Service, completed the Fire Skills programme at Alloa Fire Station.

Over the three days, they learned some of the basic skills and duties of a firefighter in the classroom and during practical sessions led by local area liaison officer Alan Faulds.

Work ethic, team-work, self-discipline, confidence and communication were at the heart of the programme.

In addition, the youngsters came away with knowledge they can use in their everyday lives, including first aid and CPR as well as personal and fire safety – especially important during the festive period when the service often sees an increase in accidental fires.

The three days culminated in “conformation exercise”, a practice scenario involving a crashed van on fire with two casualties within.

It tested their knowledge and abilities, particularly their team-work skills which is essential for any operation's success.

During their training, they donned breathing apparatus, rescued 'casualties' from a pitch black building, helped cut open a car following a crash, learned how to use the hose reel jets and worked together to achieve their objectives – all in a controlled environment at the station.

Alan said: “It took them half a day to get used to what we were asking them to do because it was outside their comfort zone.

“We were asking them to do stuff that they have never done before, which firefighters do, like rolling the hose and pump drills.”

He added: “They have picked up more than they thought they have and I was pleased that they've managed to pick up all the skills that we were trying to teach them.

“They definitely enjoyed it, they've been enthusiastic.”

Some of the youngsters did not even realise women could take the job on.

However, firefighter Heather Steel, who has been working with the service for around 25 years now, was a great role model they could look up to.

She spoke to the youngsters about her work, explained how they could apply and two girls from the group are now considering a career in the service.

Alan added: “She was delivering a couple of the educational talks that we were doing and they really reacted to that because Heather's knowledge and skill comes through when she is doing that.”

The programme has been running for around a decade now but, this year, it was aimed at young girls in particular to highlight they have equal opportunities and can apply for a role within the service.

This also supported one of the aims of the Wee County's Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP): empowering women to make sure they are confident, aspirational and can reach their full potential.

Gordon Pryde, local group manager for service delivery, explained the LOIP highlighted the life chances for younger females are not as positive as they could be in the area.

He added: “We hope that by running this course, dedicated to females, we will have the opportunity to support not only the Local Outcome Improvement Plan but also support the girls in question and to offer a role model such as Heather.

“And ensure that they are aware of the potential positive outcomes that they do have, whether it be through the fire service or whether it be through any other role in life they would like to take.”