Camp Molly inspires teen girls to consider career in fire service

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“It’s been amazing watching these girls transform from very hesitant to even put on the gear to cutting cars open,” Cowles said. 

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“We were popping doors and they did black out searches. These girls have come from extremely hesitant to coming out of their shells. It’s been unreal.” 

Camp Molly was hosted by the La Ronge Regional Fire Department, where most of the activities during the four days were held. The camp itself was quite comprehensive and included instruction on structural and wildland fires, tools of the trade, medical response, how to conduct public information campaigns and more.  

The camp in La Ronge is the only one being held outside of Ontario in 2026. There was supposed to be demonstrations using live fire, but that had to be changed due to the fire ban in the tri-communities which ended Saturday. 

Cowles noted there is an increasing number of women entering the fire service.  

Part of the training involved learning to use firefighting tools and techniques. (Image Credit: Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Participants and others involved in the camp came together for a group picture. (Image Credit: Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“We did a luncheon learn on wildland firefighting, and to be one who jumps out of a helicopter, there is a certain criteria for weight, so they are finding that women can fill that position a lot better because we’re generally smaller.” 

“We are seeing women increase in numbers in the fire service, but definitely in wildland firefighting there is a large percentage of women now.” 

Participants in the camp came from communities such as North Battleford, Shellbrook, Regina, Saskatoon and Pinehouse. Two attendees from La Ronge were 16-year-old Daysha Dobersheck and 17-year-old Suri Sanderson. Dobersheck is interested in a career in emergency medical services and Sanderson wants to be a wildland firefighter. 

“I wasn’t really too interested, but I have been inside all summer and I thought it would be something to do. Now actually getting into it, there’s a really nice community and there’s a lot of things I’ve learned that I could use in my everyday life,” Dobersheck said.  

Sanderson is also grateful for the experience.  

“I wanted to become a wildland firefighter and then I seen this camp, so I decided to join it. It has given me some good skills.” 

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com