Branford’s First Female Firefighter: Amanda Henriques Joins Department

Amanda Henriques has a warm smile and a grip like iron. It's the perfect combination for a care-giving paramedic who also happens to be Branford's first full-time female firefighter.

Amanda, 24, was officially hired in September and reported on Dec. 18 after completing academy training. She was hired together with paramedic/firefighter Dan Slaybaugh, filling two openings, says Fire Chief Jack Ahern.

Eighteen candidates were considered. All went through the Connecticut Physical Agility Test (CPAT) as well as a written exam, interview with a statewide panel, and then an interview with the chief and assistant chief. From there, the best candidates needed the approval of Branford's fire commissioners.

Ahern says he can't stress enough what an "exceptional" candidate Amanda proved to be as she cleared each hurdle in the hiring process.

"We have had, over the years, other females that have come through the process, but washed out for one reason or another. It is a grueling process," Ahern said. "She shined through everything and really made a good impression on the commissioners."

Amanda was 16 when she first volunteered with a fire company in her West Haven hometown. Amanda became a certified EMT and was working as a paramedic with American Medical Response in Bridgeport when she decided to tackle the CPAT.

A three-season athlete in high school, Amanda still works out extensively and passing CPAT proved she's pretty much made of muscle.

"One of the things you do is wear a 75-pound vest for three minutes on a stair-climber," she explains. "Then, they take off 25 pounds and you go through the rest of the course."

Passing CPAT qualified Amanda for a paramedic/firefighter's job. She says she couldn't have found a better match than the Branford Fire Department, both for its people and the position.

"There aren't too many departments that have paramedic/firefighters and that's what I wanted to do."

As soon as she was hired, Amanda headed to the state Fire Training Academy in Windsor Locks. The sole female in her platoon of 35, Amanda was made platoon leader on day one, heading five squads.

"Mentally, that was little draining," she admits.

However, as a paramedic, Amanda was already used to working in a traditionally male field.

"There were only a handful of us…and there are definitely more female paramedics than female firefighters," she says, laughing.

"I never expected to be treated any different. At the academy, there was the usual stuff you would expect in a group of guys, but once they see you're dishing it out as much as anyone else is dishing back, that's fair game," she says.

Once Amanda arrived in Branford, a few changes were made to accommodate her 24-hour shifts as a member of Division Four. Hospital curtains separate her bunk in the open bunk room. There's also a lock, for the first time, on the shower room door, Ahern says.

"The curtain is to give privacy for everybody in the room. The bathroom and shower room is now unisex, with a lock for
everybody to use. As a lot of people know, we're trying to build a new building here and that's all part of the new building. Right now, it's a compromise for everybody, not only for Amanda, but for the rest of the guys, too."

But that's the only compromise.

During her first response (a January house fire in Lanphier Cove), "I saw in her no hesitation," Ahern says. "She was swinging an axe like anyone else would. One of the things we want to watch out for is that she's not coddled and that's not happening. She can definitely handle herself."