Nobody would confuse Giselle Kron’ s story with one of those“ I always knew” firefighter stories. She got nudged into it, gave it a shot, and found herself drawn in by the people as much as the work.

“ The community about it, like the station and the people and the friends, family aspect of it, and just helping people in general,” she said. Even this early in her time with Baldwin Fire Rescue, that is what she keeps coming back to. The work matters, but the sense of community pulled her in first.

Kron earned her certification at the end of March, so she is still at the very beginning. She knows that, and she does not try to hide it. She has gone on calls, handled some of the less glamorous jobs, and started learning what it means to be part of a crew. She shows up, pays attention, and wants to earn her place the right way.

She also knows where she wants this to go. Kron wants to pursue a career as an EMT and keep building a future in the fire service. That matters because she did not always move through life with one clear direction in mind. This changed that. The work gave her something real to work toward, and helping people made the path feel solid.

Her first months in training also forced her to figure out how she fit into a field that still leaned heavily toward men. She said she

PART OF THE CREW: INSIDE BALDWIN FIRE RESCUE

counted only about five women in a class of thirty. She expected people to doubt her or assume she could not handle the work because of her size. Instead, her instructors showed her how to approach the job in ways that worked for her.

“ Instead of being like, oh, I’ ll do it for you, they show me ways to do it,” she said. During burn training, a female instructor showed her how to wrap a hose around her waist and use her legs and other larger muscle groups to move it. That advice did more than help her through one task. It showed her that she could learn the job as herself and still do it well.

That same mindset carried into the station. Kron said she walked in unsure of how people would treat her. She wondered whether they would go easy on her because she was a woman or push her even harder to test her. Instead, they treated her like part of the group.“ They include me in it, too,” she said.“ Like, they’ re not like, oh, we don’ t want to upset her. Like, feel like they just accepted me.” What she means is simple. They joke with her, expect things from her, and treat her like everyone else. They do not sideline her or treat her as fragile. In a field where women still make up a small minority, that kind of everyday acceptance matters.

Kron also talks openly about her nerves. She wants to try everything, but parts of the job still intimidate her, especially interior work. She does not hide that. That honesty shows what the early stage actually looks like. She wants this. She takes it seriously. She also knows fear does not disappear just because you care about the work. She is still at the start, where support, inclusion, and culture can shape everything that comes next.

If reading this made you think about getting involved, reach out. That can mean answering calls, helping around the station, or just starting a conversation to see where you fit.

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