Portland Metro Fire Camp empowers young women through firefighting and public safety

This summer, Portland Metro Fire Camp proudly celebrated its 18th year of empowering young women to explore careers in the fire service and other traditionally male-dominated professions through hands-on training, mentorship, and leadership development. As an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Portland Metro Fire Camp has empowered hundreds of young women to discover careers they may never have otherwise considered while helping build the next generation of firefighters, public safety professionals, and leaders.

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This year's camp was made possible through a $25,000 grant from the City of Portland, awarded through the Public Safety Service Area. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Jenni Pullen and Ken Lee of the Public Safety Service Area, Director Elisabeth Perez of the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, and everyone who championed this investment in our campers and our community. Their support ensured that Portland Metro Fire Camp could continue its mission for an 18th consecutive year.

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This work by Dennis Weis is licensed under All rights reserved.

We are equally grateful to Portland Fire & Rescue, our partner agencies, volunteers, and community sponsors, whose time, expertise, and generosity make this program possible. Together, we're investing in the future of our community and the fire service through its young women.

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PMFC (Portland Metro Fire Camp) is a nonprofit organization that started as a grassroots effort in 2009 by a handful of Portland female firefighters who wanted to provide a community of support, mentorship, and empowerment to young women in a field that does not traditionally even have women (only 4% of professional firefighters in the USA are women). PMFC is a girl's camp, run by professional female firefighters who volunteer their time to make plan and execute this camp every year. The camp is free to all participants and is made possible by the efforts of the community, firefighters volunteering their time, city of Portland, and local partners.

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This work by Dennis Weis is licensed under All rights reserved.

Want to help ensure there is a 19th year? Portland Metro Fire Camp relies on grants, community partnerships, and financial support to make camp possible. Every investment helps keep this opportunity available to the next generation of young women. Learn more or make a donation at PortlandMetroFireCamp.com.