Volunteer of Moorestown Fire Department Encourages Other Women to ‘Tell Yourself that You Can Do It’
Moorestown, N.J. – Brenda Jamerson has worked for the Moorestown Fire Department since 2004. Whether it was assisting the fire chief and operations officer, or her current accounting role, it’s a job she’s always enjoyed.
After years of watching Moorestown’s firefighters rush out of the station when the alarm sounded, she was inspired to become a probationary volunteer with the department, which allowed her to do more around the department and ride on calls. But after a while, she still felt like she could “Become Moore.”
“I remember one day driving down Church St. and seeing a huge cloud of smoke covering Main St.,” she explained. “I just became even more intrigued and wanted to be able to help in any way I could.”
That’s when she decided that she wanted to enroll in fire school to become Firefighter I certified, and officially became a firefighter about seven years ago.
“This is my hobby,” she said. “My kids are older now — two are in high school and one is married. Work and volunteering keep me busy.”
Becoming Moore
Firefighting has always been a male-dominated field — according to the National Fire Protection Association, only 11 percent of volunteer firefighters in 2020 were female — a number that Jamerson and others would love to see increase. She hopes other women see her in action and realize that they too can become volunteer firefighters.
“I think it’s important to see a woman out there on calls,” she explained. “Other women might think to themselves, ‘Hey, if she can do it, I can do it too!’”
As the department’s Account Clerk, Jamerson is already at the station during the day. Being able to go out on calls means one more firefighter available during weekdays, which is when the department has typically struggled to find volunteers.
“During the day, all of us here are certified,” she said. “It’s nice that we are able to work here and still run calls when necessary.”
Jamerson cites internal satisfaction as one of the top reasons she became a volunteer. Besides volunteering, she also enjoys assisting at the department’s community events — most notably Moorestown Day every October.
“Everyone Here is Willing to Teach”
Moorestown’s membership is helpful for anyone who is looking to gain and expand their skillset.
“Everyone here is willing to teach and is encouraging,” she said. “If you need anything, someone is always there.”
The department knows its personnel’s strengths and is always putting volunteers in the best possible position to succeed.
“There’s so many different things to do on a fire scene, so many different jobs that must get done,” she said. “We have all kinds of different people in our department.”
Jamerson also has a hand in meeting and welcoming the department’s new members since joining the membership committee last year. She says the department is open and welcoming to all newcomers.
“It’s like a family here,” she said. “Just being able to get out there and help the community is a great feeling.”
Join Moorestown Fire Department
Moorestown primarily needs volunteers to help fight fires, but there’s also opportunities to help in other ways. The department is looking for fire police as well as junior auxiliary members. No prior experience is necessary, and training and equipment are provided at no cost.
As for anyone who may be considering it or on the fence, Jamerson says to tell yourself that you can do what you set out to accomplish.
“It’s a mindset,” she explained. “If you tell yourself that you can do it, you’re going to be able to do it. If you practice and work at something, you’ll enjoy it.”
To learn more about Moorestown Fire Department, visit http://www.MoorestownFire.org/