An all female on-call fire crew is responding to emergencies in Oxfordshire for the first time in two decades. Based at Abingdon Fire Station, the five firefighters – Emily Potter, Anastasia Osborne, Kayleigh Williams, Maria Alegria, and Karen Bellcourt – live locally and are able to crew a fire appliance together when needed.
Emily Potter, who has served as an on-call firefighter for over seven years while working as an engineer, said: “We’ve worked incredibly hard to gain the necessary skills to respond as an all-female crew. It’s been an empowering journey of camaraderie, and I hope it encourages more women to see firefighting as a career.”
The Abingdon crew is part of a wider team of 17 on-call firefighters, working alongside 12 full-time staff. On-call firefighters respond to emergency calls, provide prevention advice, and support community safety, all while balancing other careers or commitments.
Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall praised the team’s dedication, noting that Oxfordshire now has 56 female operational firefighters. “Our crew at Abingdon is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when we embrace diversity and promote inclusivity,” he said.
Karen Bellcourt, a student health and safety adviser and mother of three, highlighted the flexibility of on-call work: “Being able to respond from my primary employment close to the station makes this achievable. Supporting our community alongside my female colleagues is both an honour and a privilege.”
Rebecca Rimmer, part of the first all female Faringdon crew 20 years ago, reflected: “Being in that groundbreaking crew felt like breaking through a glass ceiling. I hope the Abingdon team inspires more women to consider on-call firefighting, which offers flexibility for career, study, or family commitments.”
Oxfordshire County Council is encouraging applications from individuals with a strong desire to support their community, enthusiasm for teamwork, reasonable fitness, and proximity to their local fire station. Interested candidates can email fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk or visit the Oxfordshire County Council website for more information.
