Plans are being made for women to undertake much more of the work in the new Fire Service so as to release all fit men for actual fire-fighting duty.
Fire Force Commanders have been instructed to recruit women for the work of motor-cycle despatch riders, cyclist messengers, motor drivers and drivers of heavy lorries, and to employ women as drivers of hose laying lorries, canteen vans, store vans and light vans.
“Experience of the ambulance and emergency canteen services,” said a Home Office memorandum, “has shown that women drivers are as able to face dangers as are men.”
Consideration is also being given to the employment of women to act as pump operators, whilst indoor work will be carried out as far as possible by women only.
