VIDEO: There are big changes coming to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, which include recruiting more women and minorities at Pittsburgh Westinghouse High School.
When Mark Black puts on firefighting gear and trains to one day become a firefighter after completing the Career and Technical Education program at Pittsburgh Westinghouse High School, he hopes more female firefighters will be by his side. Black said, “I feel great about them recruiting more women."
The city of Pittsburgh is reaching out to high school students, as part of a plan to bring more minorities and women into the Pittsburgh bureau of fire. Matthew Patrick teaches the class to help train future firefighters. He said there will be a female focus firefighting youth camp and young girls make up almost half of his class.
Patrick said, "It just excites me beyond belief, seeing them have this opportunity now. I wish I had it when I was in high school."