A young woman chips away at a windshield with an ax while her fellow “firefighters” use the jaws of life to pry open a car door and rescue the imaginary passenger inside. Across the way, another group was rappelling three stories down the side of the Bellevue Fire Department’s training building while three girls cheered on a teammate climbing a six-story tall ladder next to them.

These young women were some of the dozens of attendees of a special firefighting camp called Camp Blaze, where teenage girls learn about what it takes to be a firefighter while also building self-esteem, communication and leadership skills.

Camp Blaze was started in 1999 to inspire and support young women leaders through firefighting. The attendees don’t have to want to be firefighters — battling blazes is just a medium to teach communication and empowerment.

This year, teenagers from up and down the western United States enrolled in Camp Blaze — some from as far away as Alaska or Iowa.

During the week-long camp, girls ages 16-19 learn everything from how to use basic gear, rappel down structures, conduct air lifts and how to respond to live building fires, wildfires and cardiac arrest situations. The young women are led by a dozen female firefighters from across the country.

“It’s all about doing things you didn’t think were possible,” said Seattle firefighter and Camp Blaze coordinator Amina Saleh, who herself attended the camp in 2003.

Fire departments throughout the U.S. are looking to increase the number of women and the diversity in their crews, including the Bellevue and Seattle Fire Departments. Camp Blaze has also become a great recruiting tool and has inspired other camps in the country.

Kirkland resident Anika Hansson first became interested in firefighting after helping with food drives at the Kirkland Fire station with her basketball team.

“It’s been so cool, we get to almost do the things they do,” Hansson said of her Camp Blaze experience. “The only thing I was nervous about at first was putting on all of the gear and going into the dark room, but it really helped with our communication.”

While some attendees have a standing interest in becoming a firefighter, others had never considered it. San Fransisco resident Isabel Siu said she heard about Camp Blaze through her dance teacher and thought it seemed like a great opportunity.

“I really had no idea what to expect,” Siu said. “I’ve gotten a great sense sense of my strength physically and mentally. It’s also been self-esteem-boosting, showing girls they have power.”

The Bellevue Fire Department is currently recruiting for a January 2017 entry level fire academy. Please click go to https://www.publicsafetytesting.com/agency/view/details/dtsid/1432 for more information.