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ERIE, Pa. (AP) — If you want to meet a lot of strong women with hearts of gold, visit one of the dozens of volunteer fire departments in the region. "These women can do everything men can, and some of them can do things that the men can't," said Crystal Meyer, a volunteer at Girard's A.F. Dobler Hose & Ladder Co. who isn't a firefighter herself but does a lot of behind-the- scenes work for her husband, Rick, the fire chief. Each woman firefighter has a story to tell, and all of them have been involved in rescues, emergency calls for health issues and much more. The reasons they choose dangerous volunteer efforts are as varied as their ages and occupations. For some it's in their blood. Megan Crotty, 26, is a fifth-generation firefighter. She grew up as an only child who was constantly at the fire station with her dad, Joe Crotty, the fire chief at Lawrence Park Fire Dept. Her cousin, Michael Crotty, died in the line of duty during the Port Erie Plastics fire in March. "My dad has been doing this for 40 years, and I started as a junior firefighter in 2004," she said. The emergency medical and firefighter training she's been through have been valuable to her career goals. Crotty earned two degrees in nursing and is currently enrolled at LECOM with plans to become a trauma surgeon. Trauma is something she knows personally. While on the scene of a fire in North East on March 19, a fellow firefighter fell off a roof and landed on her. She ended up with a concussion and back issues that resulted in surgery. She hopes to be back to firefighting this month. "Growing up, I never thought about it, but I bought into it. You're capable if you're determined -- male or female," she said. "You let your tools do your talking, and we work as a team. You have a family at the fire station." Amy DiBacco, 43, of the Wesleyville Hose Co., said she got involved in firefighting to help people. "That's what it's all about," she said. DiBacco's husband, John, is the deputy fire chief at Wesleyville Hose Co. Amy DiBacco and Crystal Meyer recruited numerous women to speak to Her Times for this story. Seeing women in fire gear is not unusual these days. The ranks of volunteer female firefighters have increased in the past decade to account for about 13 percent of the region's volunteers, according to Jen Waxam, 36, of Lake City. She started out as a volunteer firefighter in Girard in 1996 at age 16. She moved to Lake City Fire Co. in 2008, and she is now married to the chief, Marvin Waxam Jr. "I wanted to help my community, and normal community service wasn't for me," she said. She has seen many fires and rescues, but the Gudgeonville Bridge fire stands out as one of the worst, along with a garage fire. But it's not just fires. She is also an emergency medical technician who said her most memorable rescue was an elderly male. "I brought him back," she said. Being a woman, she added, was a disadvantage when she started training. She remembered that the late Girard fire chief Louis Hannah wasn't a fan when she first joined. "It took a long time to gain his respect, but I was voted in as the first female fire officer at Girard," she said. "You have to have a good sense of humor. Don't take anything too personally," Waxham said. She is a 911 communicator during her regular career. She added that with the disasters all firefighters see, some comments and conversations that men participate in can't be seen as offensive. "They are letting off steam and stress. We all do," she said. She added that they might not all agree on how to deal with stress, but understanding was important. Lifesaving as a volunteer is often an extension of the daily careers of female firefighters. Carrie Colleran, D.O., is a physician in the emergency department at Saint Vincent Hospital and medical director for eight volunteer fire companies. She grew up as a firefighter in South Park, in Allegheny County. "Since I was 16, I had uncles and others in the fire service," she said. She moved to Erie, graduated from LECOM and married her husband, the Girard fire chief, Hank Zerbee. Now she is the mom of two kids and currently on maternity leave. At 36, she suggests other get involved. "I have been with EMS since I was 16. We are in urgent need of volunteers," she said. Colleran admits firefighting is not for everyone. You have to be able to carry 50 to 100 pounds in equipment and protective gear. "It's challenging. We all have work, family and we can't just take up and leave, but you don't have to be a firefighter to volunteer, because all fire stations need help in fundraisers and serving meals," she said. Stephanie Rutkowski Fox, 35, has been with the Stancliff Hose Co. in Waterford for seven years. She is one of three women firefighters at the company and works for an insurance company during the day. Her brother Ryne Rutkowksi persuaded her to get involved. She said being a role model is one of the best parts of her job. "The coolest thing happened when we were conducting tours for kids. I overheard one little girl say, 'Look at that girl -- she's a firefighter,'" she said. Lindsay Rae Weidler, 25, agrees. She is a 911 telecommunicator at the Erie County Department of Public Safety. She volunteers for Lake City Fire Co. and has two sons, ages 7 and 2. "They think of me as a superhero," she said. She has been a firefighter for two years. Kim Hyde, 31, is a nurse in the emergency room at Saint Vincent Hospital. Her dad was a firefighter for Girard, and she learned to do everything at a young age. She is also a firefighter at Girard's A.F. Dobler Hose & Ladder. She encourages women to get involved in any way they can. "If you only have an hour a week, all fire stations can use your help," she said. Cindi Dahlkemper, 42, is the EMS lieutenant with Brookside Fire Dept. in Harborcreek Township. She is a nurse practitioner at Saint Vincent and started as a volunteer at age 14. "Honestly, I followed a boy there," she said with a laugh. But she added that the experience gave her many career opportunities. "It is time-consuming if you are going to be committed to it, and it can be a challenge balancing it with work," she said. Her husband is the fire chief, and she said it's an organization that is family oriented. Jamie French, 15, and Tamara Wall, 16, are junior firefighters and sophomores in the protective services program at Central Career & Technical School and firefighters at Wesleyville Hose Co. Both said they hope it helps them in their careers, but they are undecided yet as to where their careers will take them. The women who volunteer perform lifesaving skills, and they say working together is key. Crotty said that five generations of her family include men and women who learned the same skills to be firefighters and EMTs. Today, the men and women of volunteer fire departments help each other to come to the aid of people who need emergency assistance. "Sometimes, just being there is what people need. We are the calm in the storm, and we save lives and property," Crotty said. HT Why women volunteer Paige Miller, 27, a telecommunicator at Erie County Department of Public Safety, an emergency medical technician at West County Paramedic Assoc. and EMT/firefighter/secretary at the Cranesville Volunteer Fire Dept., loves her career and her volunteer efforts. "It is my life and my passion," she said. "I love being able to serve my community." Emma Blasius, 19, lives in Lakewood, New York, and works at Alstar Ambulance Service and WCA Hospital, and she is an EMT with Kuhl Hose Co. She is studying sports medicine at Mercyhurst University, and said volunteering is a great way to meet people. Becky Giles, 44, of Wesleyville Hose Co., has been involved in helping people for 20 years and maintains it is the best way to give back to the community. Missy Simpson, 40, of Wesleyville Hose Co., spent three years in the auxiliary before she got into firefighting. She wanted to help her community. Darlene Afieri, 46, of Wesleyville Hose Co., got into firefighting recently. All her kids were grown, and she decided she needed to do something to help her community. She agrees with others that the volunteers are family. "We're not always friends, but we are always family," she said. Jessica Graver, 27, of Wesleyville Hose Co., is also a new recruit who said she got involved because she had family members who were volunteers. ___ Online: http://bit.ly/29cq70r ___ Information from: Erie Times-News, http://www.goerie.com

Erie-area women firefighters share why they volunteer