Wearing 60 pounds of equipment, Jessica Vanegas on Tuesday became the first woman in 10 years to pass the physical agility test to become a Paulding County firefighter.
She’s expected to graduate the fire academy in two weeks, Channel 2 Action News reported.
And it’s a career the young woman told Channel 2 she’s wanted her whole life, while growing up in Paulding County.
She told the television station she found inspiration in the rescuers who were always there for her brother, who was often ill.
“They were always the calm when all the panic was going on, so I wanted to be there for somebody else during their time,” Vanegas said.
Paulding Fire spokesman Steven Mapes said the physical test was purposefully made tougher a decade ago and changes when state regulations change.
“The perception is that this is a man's job but we think it's great to have another female come through the more stringent requirements,” Mapes told Channel 2. “The young girls will look at this and think maybe it’s not too hard for me to do it.”
Vanegas wants those who are inspired to know the written test is just as difficult.
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