The National Fire Authority is working towards creating a gender-balanced environment in its workforce.

NFA Chair John O’Connor says they are slowly changing the culture of the work environment within the organization to be more inclusive.

O’Connor says they’ll continue to provide more opportunity and empower more women to join the force.

“We believe if young women are given the opportunity, they are as good a firefighter as men are. That’s why for the first time this year we’ve recruited 10 female firefighters, slowly changing the culture at NFA to be an integrated firefighting service. We look forward to the future whereby we’ll start to increase the number of women firefighter in Fiji.”

Meanwhile, 10 female firefighters were part of the 68 new recruits that had their pass-out parade yesterday.