"1899 All Women Fire Dept" Postcard

What year was the first female firefighter? Molly Williams, a former slave in New York City, is often reported to be the first known female firefighter. She became a member of Oceanus Engine Company #11 in about 1815. Interesting note: The Aboriginal Australians developed techniques for managing bushfires in the 60,000 years before the arrival of European settlers, with women being involved. Excluding these indigenous precursors, the first all-female firefighting crew was recruited in 1901 in Armidale, New South Wales. It was formed in response to a fire at Cunningham House in the same town. Known as The Amazons, this volunteer crew complimented the all-male paid firefighting crew, and was the first example in Australia of male and female crews doing routine fire drills together using the same equipment.