Fire!

News that a female firefighter from the New York Fire Department was going to be the first woman to feature in the Department's charity calendar made me think it would be a good moment to celebrate some of the (apparently) numerous women who are or have been firefighters while at the same time sculpting their bodies with iron.

But first, what of this pioneering New York firefighter?



Her name is Danae Mines and she is part of the crew of South Bronx Engine Company 60, according to the Chicago Tribune. She's one of only 41 women working as firefighters in the Department, and has been dousing the flames (while simultaneously making temperatures rise - I'll get the jokes in early, I guess) for 11 years.

Interestingly, there was no call for women to audition for the calendar - the Department didn't decide to feature a woman until Ms Mines took the lead and, with over a hundred male hopefuls, just turned up. Strong woman. I'd love to inspire other women to come to the job, she said at an event to promote the calendar.



And here she is. Miss March, in "the red suspenders" showing off her "taut arms". A fully loaded gear belt over olive work trousers, her arms crossed defiantly as one of New York's Bravest, the Tribune added. I think Ms Mines has a bit of Mmmmonique Jones about her, don't you? Curious to think she'll be adorning the walls of the calendar's fans - who the Tribune described as "moms and giddy young women".

So, we have our Miss March.

That leaves us in need of 11 firefighting muscle goddesses, I reckon...

January SANDY RIDDELL



The first female muscle firefighter I knew of back in the day, Sandy was on duty in the Phoenix Fire Department: Station 13 (although apparently not these days).

Check out this '80s news clip of Sandy in the gym, on stage, and on the job.



February NADINE YOUNG



Also known as Nadine Williams, this 34-year-old Canadian figure competitor was IDFA Ms Figure World Champion in 2010. When not competing or modelling, she works as a personal trainer and "nutrition counsellor", and owns a tiling business(!). Oh, and she has been putting out fires in the Toronto suburb of Ajax for ten years.

April CHARLOTTE ANDERSON



Britain's fittest female firefighter, according to Britain's most female muscle-friendly publication, the Daily Mail. 27-year-old Charlotte is a full-time council worker and "retained" firefighter in her hometown of Shepton Mallett in Somerset.



She began lifting weights after she had entered the fire service "to keep up with the boys", and last year she qualified for the UKBFF British Championships in the bodyfitness division. But Charlotte has plans. I am hoping to work up to the next class of physique, she told the Mail, but lean muscle will take years to obtain naturally but is worth the patience and dedication. I like her thinking.

May ERICA BLOCKMAN



The very gorgeous Erica Blockman is certainly one woman who found greater success after making the move up to physique, and is (or was) also a paramedic with the Mount Shasta (California) Fire Protection District - she had been with the department for four years in 2011 according to a forum post of hers.

June SUZANNE ENGHED



A full-time firefighter from Cheltenham, Suzanne has been a serial medal winner at the annual Firefighter Games since 2010, and has won the title of Toughest Female Firefighter on more than one occasion. Last year the Games were held in Belfast, and she won gold in the Ultimate Firefighter event. This included an event called "The Stair Climb", which involved, according to an article in the Gloucestershire Echo, ascending 27 floors of a building in full firefighting kit and breathing apparatus. And Suzanne's winning time was... 3 minutes 24 seconds!!! I've been in slower lifts.



Her exploits led to her being chosen as one of the torch bearers in for the London Games in 2012. She was nominated by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer, who called her a superb role model for so many people.

July ALLISON BOOKLESS



Some of you may remember Allison Bookless, an early '90s bodybuilder who became a fitness competitor from the late '90s on. She was at that time, and, according to one forum post I've seen, still is, a firefighting paramedic in Columbus, Ohio.

August BRITTNIE LYNN PETTIFORD



This firefighter and medic from Katy, Texas is also an NPC physique competitor who calls herself "LadyFirefighter" on her Bodyspace page - and it's well worth a visit if you are a fan of transformations. The Mirror drives me, she says, People who said I would never be here drive me... the image in my head of what I want to look like motivates me... my fans/followers/supporters drive me... pictures of the "old me" motivate me. Passion drives me. Discipline drives me. Guess you could say she's driven!

September NICOLA GOODWILL



As featured on FMS before, NABBA and UKBFF physique competitor Nicola Goodwill never wanted to be anything other than a firefighter, first applying at the age of 18. Her dream came true when she joined the team in Selby, North Yorkshire in 2010. One of her (many) tattoos reads: Firefighters walk where the devil dances.

A preview of Nicola from fitvids. While you watch, you may find yourself imagining being carried out of burning building cradled in those arms. I know I was.



October ANNA MILLINGTON



Another British World Champion I'd never even heard of, natural bodybuilder Anna Millington. She won the drug-free INBF World title in 2011, and last year came second at the European Championships. And, yes, she's a firefighter (although I can't find a single pic of her in her uniform, sadly). Anyway, Anna fights those fires in Keighley, West Yorkshire. So with Nicola Goodwill, and now Anna in the area, Yorkshire seems to be the female muscle firefighting capital of the world!

November SARAH HALLETT



Full-time Swansea firefighter Sarah Hallett was the overall NABBA Ms Britain in 2013 and has, in my humble opinion anyway, one of the better backs in the country.



Despite working in baggy flame-proof overalls during the day, Sarah is confident donning a tiny bikini and displaying her body on stage, the Daily Mail reported last October after Sarah's Britain win. She got into body building after competing as a long-distance runner at the World Firefighter Games in 2007. When she saw the winner of the woman’s bodybuilding competition, she thought, I’m in better shape than her.

December SHERRY SMITH



And to end the year, her Vascular Armness herself, the great great Sherry Smith, who was (and may well still be) an Oklahoma City firefighter - an article about her from way back in February 2003 was already describing her as a "veteran".



She had initially begun training because of the job, and she turned pro in 2006. The highlight of her career was probably the Europa Supershow in Dallas in 2008, when she beat Kim Perez and Annie Riveccio to the heavyweight title. But after coming a lowly 16th at the Olympia that year, she seemed to have retired until she came back in 2012 at the Chicago Pro, where she competed again last year.

So, female muscle firefighters, hot or what?

Enjoy!