A complete coincidence led to Firefighters Emma Baird, Izzi Priest-Forsyth, Anna Smith and Senior Firefighter Aimee Taylor working in the same crew for a day shift yesterday.
Firefighter Izzi Priest-Forsyth said a switch around of shifts led to the women working together.
"We didn’t know this would happen at all, so it’s awesome."
Dunedin Central Fire Station Senior Station Officer Cam McLauchlin joined the four women and the crew had a "quiet day," attending car accidents and assisting St John with medical calls.
Ms Taylor, who drove the fire appliance yesterday, said it was a nice change to have on Christmas Day and it was enjoyable to have the different conversation four women provided.
"We’ve been giving Cam a bit of banter about being the only man for a change."
Qualified Firefighter Emma Baird said in her 16 years with the fire service she had only ever been one of three women on a crew together.
"I’m not sure it would have been the only time this has happened in Dunedin, but definitely one of the few."
Ms Taylor said having a female crew was refreshing.
"Having four females does reflect a slowly changing workforce.
"You are seeing more women in trades like building and mechanics, you wouldn’t have seen previously, which is very cool."
About 8% of the Dunedin firefighters are female, there being nine female firefighters out of 105, higher than the national average rate of about 3%.
