Texas summer camp encourages young women to train as firefighters

Available slots for the San Antonio Fire Department's "Hero Like Her" summer program for girls ages 6 to 17 were filled within 48 hours

By Jessie Forand

SAN ANTONIO — Young women in Texas are signing up to learn about the firefighting field through the "Hero Like Her" program from the San Antonio Fire Department.

The camp introduces girls ages 6-17 to a career in firefighting with hands-on experience in CPR, rescue and rappelling, agility drills, arson investigation and more, according to its website.

Aspiring firefighters train during a 2019 "Hero Like Her" camp in San Antonio. (Photo/San Antonio Fire Department)

Within 48 hours, all slots were filled, according to KENS5.

The two-day camp is run by current SAFD female firefighters, including Gabrielle Estrada.

“'The Hero Like Her' program is here to inspire young women, to give them the opportunity to know that there are different career paths and being a firefighter is one of them,” Estrada said.

Camp participant Riley De La Cruz gave the program a glowing review: “10 out of 10, I would come here every day if I could. I just love it, it’s fun.”