Fire Girl

The Story of One of the First Female CDF Fire Fighters

By: Jan Mendoza

Narrated by: Kara Hayden

Jan Mendoza was one of the first few female firefighters to work for the California Department of Forestry. The year was 1978, and there were only 26 girls working for CDF in the entire state that year. A female had never stepped foot to work at Jan's assigned Northern California CDF station in its 50-year history! It was definitely a man's world, and some weren't happy when an 18-year-old girl who stood five feet two inches tall and weighed 95 pounds showed up for duty. From the mundane everyday station work to battling raging forest fires with near-death experiences, Jan tells her story of how she remembers it those many years ago with humor and honesty!

For more information about Jan and to see photos and video, go to wildlandfirewomen.com

©2010 Janet Mendoza (P)2023 Janet Mendoza

Interesting listen

It was a very interesting non-fiction book.
Made me glad that I was never a firefighter, but I glad somebody is.
Kara was a good voice for the book. Very upbeat.

Great story

This was such an informative look into one of the first women fire fighters in California and what she had to deal with in a “man’s space”.
Kara brought the story to life and made it very impactful.

Fascinating, personal and very well read.

I so enjoyed this book. Number one - it Jan Mendoza is from my era when many women referred to ourselves as “Women’s Libbers” proudly, Number two - I learned so much about “fire fighting” in those days, and Number 3 it was read so effectively and warmly by Kara Hayden that I really wanted to know Ms. Mendoza and have a cup of coffee with her. It took me a long afternoon to listen while gardening! I highly recommend spending one of your afternoons or evenings listening to her story.