The Clark County Fire Department hosted its first fire training camp Saturday and Sunday in efforts to hire more women in its department.

The U.S. Fire Administration reporting only 5% of women are in the career, and in Clark County, less than 1% of 500 firefighters are women.

"I honestly think it's just because women don't know that they can be firefighters," said Ashton Philleo, Clark County Firefighter. "You only ever see male firefighters. You don't really see females. So we're just trying to kind of change the script and rewrite it a bit."

Eternity Bruce Shabazz, a trainee in the county's new camp, says she's been working to be a firefighter for more than two years and is getting hands-on experience for the first time.

"We're doing things like the hose drags. We're doing stairs up the tower," said Bruce Shabazz. "So just doing things that will help us get a taste of what it's like to be in the fire academy."

Twenty-two people were in attendance for the camp, majority of them women. Three of the women in the training this weekend are on track to join the academy in the spring next year.

"It is hard. I am sweating. That's why I have my jacket open right now," said Bruce Shabazz. "But it's really good to have all the firefighters here encouraging us and giving us, especially the techniques."

Kelsey Avery, a rookie Clark County Firefighter who just graduated from the 2023 spring academy, says being a female in the department is rewarding.

A recent grad from the spring academy.

"Being a female, it has many obstacles, but it also has many advantages," said Avery. "And at the end of the day, we're all a team, and we're all one unit. So we all have to perform up to the standard that is held."

Laura Crutchley, the Clark County Fire Department Training Director, says it is essential for women to be a part of the team.

"I've had calls where there's a female patient that only wants to talk to a (woman)," said Crutchley. "She's just been through something where she only wants to talk to a woman. And when you have a room full of men standing over you. And all you want is a woman to talk to you, that person they are looking for when you walk into that room."