The State : 1st Women Join S.F. Fire Crews

San Francisco’s first four women firefighters start on the job this week, part of a class of 24 rookies who received graduation certificates and fire helmets from the department’s top brass. The women were hired as the result of a federal court order designed to address past discrimination of women and minorities, and are the first in the 137-year history of the department. All the recruits completed a nine-week intensive training program, learning to scale ladders and rappel down buildings. “I have to go in and show that I have the skills to do the job,” said rookie Anne Young, 26. “It’s as simple as that.”