Women firefighters strengthen the fire service. Across Washington, women in the WSCFF are making an impact on the line, in leadership, and in their communities.
The WSCFF celebrates all women in the fire service, and we’re proud to highlight three inspiring women WSCFF firefighters and their stories for Women’s History Month, shared in their own words.
Lauren Welborn, Local 4574 Professional Rescuers of Skamania County
Born in New York and raised largely in the Pacific Northwest, Lauren Welborn began her fire service journey as a volunteer firefighter in 2016. She has spent the past nine years as an EMT and is now in her fourth year with Skamania EMS & Rescue. A dedicated union leader, she is proud to serve as President of IAFF Local 4574 Skamania EMS & Rescue as of February 2026.
Why did you want to become a firefighter?
“I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do with my life until I found this line of work. My childhood was not a happy one, and at the time I went to my first meeting I was lost. The job gave me a purpose, and I was able to find a path that made me the person I am today because of this career. The motivation behind that was quite literally my past. I endured years of abuse, and when I came out of that I didn’t know what to do with myself. Over time, I realized that all I wanted was to be the person that the little girl who went through those tragedies could be proud of. I believe she’s very proud.”
What’s your greatest accomplishment in the fire service?
“The greatest accomplishment is the collective understanding that no matter where in this country, the ones who answer the call are those you can trust. That trust has been established through generations of hard-working individuals who understand humanity, even at its worst and still choose to do the right thing.”
What’s one of the biggest challenges of the job?
“My biggest challenge is separating who I need to be at work and who I need to be for my family. As a mother, sometimes the lines blur between the professional and my instincts as a mom. While that may have a benefit, it comes with its own challenges that I believe are hard at times.”
What progress have you seen for women in the fire service?
“Progress for women like me in this industry from my experience has been built by the women who have come before me. I’ve always felt accepted and supported by everyone I’ve met, and I believe I owe an immense amount of gratitude and respect to the women who have paved the way for that to be the norm.”
What do you think is important for people to understand about women working in the fire service today?
“I think it’s important to understand that women can absolutely do this job. It takes an incredible woman to do that, it’s hard work, but it’s worth it, and each of them who go down this path have my respect.”
Who helped shape you early in your career?
“The ones who shaped me early in my career were the ones who were there before I ever got my first job. The instructors in my EMT class held space for me when I was still working through past trauma, and gave me the tools to continue to work through those days and still be able to see my goals finished. The compassion that they showed to me while still being able to teach me and push myself is something I will take with me for the rest of my life.”
What’s the best thing about being a union member?
“The best thing about being a union member is the people that make up this community. Every conference I’ve gone to has been an environment where I immediately feel a sense of family. That atmosphere is cultivated by each and every individual who believes in each other, who understands each other without even knowing what their name is. It’s a legacy that I’m proud to say I’m a part of.”
How has being part of the union helped support firefighters and strengthen the fire service?
“The union has helped support firefighters and strengthened the fire service by recognizing the importance of mental health. Not only have they recognized it, but they’ve acknowledged just how important it is to take care of our brothers and sisters when things get hard. To not shy away from topics we’ve pushed away into a dark room in the past. Anyone can find themselves in that dark place one day, and for those in this industry, that dark place can seek us out if we aren’t careful. The continued efforts from the union in making mental health a staple in our profession is something I think will continue to make this one of the greatest jobs in the world.”
What advice would you give to a woman who’s thinking about becoming a firefighter?
“If you’re a woman thinking about becoming a firefighter, my best advice is to come do a ride along! Talk to the people in your community who do the job and ask all the questions. Understand that while the initial steps may seem daunting, you’ll meet amazing people along the way who are passionate and are going to cheer you on in every step. Keep up on your fitness, eat and sleep well, and enjoy the process. You’ll never know how far you can go unless you start.”
What motivates you in your day-to-day life?
“What motivates me every day is my son. To set an example of what women can accomplish, to show him what strength truly means, and to give him the life and love that the little girl inside of me only wished to have. The motivation also comes from my siblings. To set an example of perseverance, to show them that no matter what happens in your past, you always have the ability to make the future bright and worthwhile.”
Joslin Pierotti, Local I-66 Boeing
From Enumclaw, Washington, Joslin Pierotti began her fire service career as a volunteer firefighter in 2014, when she was 18 years old, before joining the Boeing Fire Department full time in 2018. She has been in the fire service for nearly 12 years and was promoted to Lieutenant in the fall of 2025. She is also involved in her local, serving as the Transfer Request Focal, where she manages requests for transfers between Kelly days, shifts, and stations. In this role, she keeps everything organized and works through placements based on seniority and current position held.
Why did you want to become a firefighter?
“Starting this off by stating that I started in the fire service at 18, right out of high school, sounds like I had it figured out early on, but before I stepped into my first fire station for a ride-along, I honestly didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do for my professional career. As cliché as it sounds, I always knew that I wanted to have a job helping others. For the majority of my time in high school, I was interested in being a Washington State Patrol officer. Needing to be 21 to apply, I had some time to decide exactly what I wanted my plan to be. During my last two years of high school, I was able to be a part of the Running Start program that allowed me to complete my associate’s degree in conjunction with graduating high school.
That summer after I graduated, I wasn’t sure of my next move – either to go to college to finish a bachelor’s degree, or stay home and see where life took me. I felt lost and insecure during that time as I was comparing myself to all my friends who I felt like all had a solid plan with college and had everything figured out. That summer, I had the opportunity to help coach my little brother’s third grade football team, where I met Randy Fehr (at the time Captain Fehr, now retired Chief of Enumclaw Fire). Randy asked me my plan after graduating, and I told him my answer, leaning toward becoming a State Patrol officer. He told me he thought I would love the fire service and that I needed to come down to the fire station to do a ride-along and try it out to see if I would be interested in volunteering.
The second I walked into that fire station, I was hit with an overwhelming feeling of being right where I was meant to be, and it hasn’t changed since. I owe everything to Chief Fehr for encouraging me to apply at the start and for his help and guidance throughout the many stages in my career. It was, without a doubt, the best decision I have ever made.”
What’s your greatest accomplishment with the fire service?
An accomplishment that means a lot to me is being picked to be on our Spacecraft Extrication and recovery team. We get to team up with NASA along with many other excellent work groups for space missions. It is an incredible and unique opportunity that we have at our department and I am honored to be a part of a team that is so talented, professional, and fun to be around. It is beyond inspiring and motivating to me – I come back as a better firefighter and team member after every training trip. This team has taken me places and introduced me to people I will never forget, and I am so lucky to have the chance to be a part of the program.
What’s one of the biggest challenges of the job?
“For me I think one of the biggest challenges of the job can be being on shift during a family event or a holiday. I am incredibly blessed with a family that is very supportive and is always willing to move around schedules to accommodate mine as best as possible so we can all still be together, but on the occasions I am on duty I would be lying to say I didn’t care that I was missing out on what was going on at home. Thankfully this doesn’t happen often, and it does get easier as you go along through your career.”
What progress have you seen for women in the fire service?
“The most significant progress I have seen for women in the fire service is the representation of numbers. Although I have only been in the service for a little over a decade, it is amazing to see an increasing number of women in recruit academy classes, station rosters, and instructor roles. It was pretty common for me to be the only or one of the few women in the house or at the training ground and as the years have gone by it’s been amazing to watch that number steadily grow and be joined by many other strong women who have found their love for the job.”
What do you think is important for people to understand about women working in the fire service today?
“I think it’s important that people understand that a crew or a firehouse is an environment that benefits from all types of people and perspectives. I have had the pleasure in my career to have always been surrounded by coworkers who have welcomed me with open arms, allowed me to be my authentic self and have a seat at the table. From running calls to living under the same roof, I believe it is so beneficial to have a female in the mix because we can bring a different natural perspective to any situation.
The women I have had the pleasure of working beside have been excellent examples of being strong enough to do the physical hard work, but also bring a level of compassion and empathy that I think can turn a good call into a great call by exceeding in customer service and the ability to connect with those who are being affected during a stressful time. Everyone has something to offer to the fire service and to the community their department protects.”
Who helped shape you early in your career? Did you have mentors who made a difference?
“I owe so much credit to Randy Fehr for introducing me to the fire service and throughout my career by helping me get hired full time and so many other amazing opportunities in between. Another person who helped shape me early in my career was Firefighter Maryn Otto from the Enumclaw fire department. Maryn was an incredible example of what a female in the fire service should strive to be; she is smart, kind, and passionate about doing the right things for the right reasons, which was so inspiring for me while I was coming up. Another great thing about Maryn is that she can hang with the best of them – she is thick skinned and quick witted making her a great sister to have on your crew. She showed me how to be “one of the dudes” while still embracing and being true to myself. I will always hold the time I spent with her on a hose line or in the truck near and dear in my heart. I can’t forget about my shift, I have been blessed in my professional career to have had the same core group of guys together since the day I started. They have been with me from probation to now being their Lieutenant (humble pie served daily). Those boys have been with me through thick and thin, they truly are my family, and I would do anything for them at anytime. It’s the best feeling in the world to be a part of a team like that. I love you guys!”
How has being part of the union helped support firefighters and strengthen the fire service?
“I think being part of the union gives firefighters support and strength in numbers. It cultivates an environment to fight for what’s fair and to have each other’s backs in times of need. Our local has a strong executive board and many other supporting positions that I have watched countless times defend and protect firefighters in our department and expand outward to make strong, impactful relationships with other locals and the WSCFF that has helped broaden our abilities in different subjects and resources throughout the state and the country. “
What advice would you give to a woman who’s thinking about becoming a firefighter?
“The best advice I could give to a young woman wanting to become a firefighter is to put yourself out there! Go to a busy station for a ride along where you have the best chance to see some action and be able to get a good idea if this is the job for you. If you get the opportunity to serve, be accountable, make every decision you make defendable, and do the right things for the right reasons. There is opportunity to learn something from everyone you come across – treat it like a buffet, take what you like and politely pass by what you don’t. Own the job, do it scared, do it tired, and learn from those that came before you how to do it right!”
What motivates you in your day-to-day life?
“My biggest motivator in life is just to be better. Whether that is at work or at home, I wake up every day with a drive to better myself for those around me and those who depend on me. I love my life and the people I have in it more than I could ever put into words, and I want to show up every day no matter what I am doing as the best version of myself I can be. Being surrounded by people who are on the same page as me gives me endless motivation every single day. I hope for myself and everyone I know to have a long, happy and healthy career and that takes diligence and care day in and day out to give you the best chance at it.”
Alyssa Pray, Local 3520 East Pierce Professional Firefighters
Born in Sacramento, California, Alyssa Pray moved to Pierce County in 2007. She spent over a decade competing in Division I roller derby before hanging up her skates to pursue the fire service, in search of a career that carried the same sense of teamwork and purpose she loved in sports. She began her fire service career in 2019 with a part-time volunteer department in the City of Buckley before being hired full-time with East Pierce Fire & Rescue. She now serves as a firefighter and continues to seek out opportunities to learn, whether it’s through classes, fire conferences, or time in the bay with her crew.
Why did you want to become a firefighter?
“I found the fire service in my early 20s during a time when I was trying to figure out my path. The firefighters I was around made a lasting impression on me—not just in how they did the job, but in how they showed up for people.
That stuck with me. I wanted to be part of something where I could help others through difficult moments, continue to challenge myself, and be useful when it really matters. The opportunity to bring some level of calm to chaotic situations and be part of a team that people rely on is what drew me in.”
What’s your greatest accomplishment in the fire service?
“Becoming an Engineer/Pump Operator and assisting with our EPFR Pump Academy for new members is a newfound passion of mine. Since I’ve started in the fire service, I’ve seen very few females in that role. But of course, I love pulling lines and throwing ladders first and foremost!
I’ve also had the chance to work with new members, and being able to support them as they build confidence and find their footing has been really meaningful. I remember what that felt like early on, so being able to give some of that back is something I value.
Watching people grow into capable firefighters is a way to give back to the people who helped shape me early in my career.”
What progress have you seen for women in the fire service?
“I’ve seen more women stepping into leadership roles and being part of important conversations around culture, performance, and mental health.
Leaders like Dena Ali and Candace Ashby have had a strong impact on me. Hearing their experiences and the work they’ve done has helped shape how I think about the job and the responsibility we all have to keep improving it.”
What’s important for people to understand about women in the fire service today?
“Women are here, and they’re committed to doing the job well.
Like anyone else in this profession, it comes down to showing up, working hard, and being someone your crew can rely on. I’ve been fortunate to be part of a team that supports me, challenges me, and holds me accountable.
I wouldn’t be where I am without that environment. At the end of the day, it’s a team effort, and the goal is to contribute to something bigger than yourself.”
Who helped shape you early in your career?
“I’ve been shaped by a mix of influences—my roller derby coaches, family, and people in the fire service who took the time to guide me early on.
They helped build a foundation of discipline, resilience, and ownership that I’ve carried into this career. I’m still learning from the people around me every day.”
How has being part of the union supported firefighters?
“The union plays an important role in advocating for firefighters, improving working conditions, and helping ensure we have what we need to do our jobs safely.
It also brings people together. It creates a sense of shared purpose and reminds us that we’re part of something larger than our individual departments.”
What advice would you give to a woman considering the fire service?
“Show up ready to work and be willing to learn. Believe in yourself and push the limits—you’re more capable than you think.
You don’t need to have everything figured out to get started, but you do need to be consistent, put in the effort, and surround yourself with people who will push you to improve.
There’s space for you in this field if you’re willing to earn it and stay committed to the process.”
What motivates you day-to-day?
“My family is a big part of what motivates me. My husband is also a firefighter, and his support allows me to do what I love while staying grounded.
Day to day, I’m motivated by the opportunity to keep improving, to be a reliable member of my crew, and to continue building a career I can be proud of.
I don’t have it all figured out, but I’m committed to showing up, doing the work, and doing my part to leave this job better than I found it.
I’m just trying to do right by the people who believe in me.”
