Mandy Sears is one of eight new Falls firefighters

Becoming the first female firefighter on the International Falls Fire Department is a historic moment for the community. But Mandy Sears said she wants to be treated the same as the other firefighters.
Sears said she has always been interested in joining a fire department or ambulance service.
At her job as an off-machine coater at the Boise Inc. paper mill, Sears heard from her coworkers that the fire department was considering candidates for firefighter positions.
Her coworkers and family told her that if a woman would join the department, it would be her, Sears said.
Talking about her new endeavor this week at her mother’s home, Sears describes herself as not the typical “go shopping girl.” The idea that she’d rather be outdoors than at a shopping mall becomes apparent as a mounted head of the first bear she hunted hangs on the wall behind her.
Sears said she isn’t worried about being the only female on the department.
“I can hold my own up to those men,” she jokes. Her mother Marsha Ohlquist agreed, saying, “I wouldn’t want to fight her.”
Sears is one of eight new firefighters to join the department. Others include Michael Larson, Justin Chezick, Brady Fougner, William Schrader, Jacob Harris, Matt LaVigne and Michael Wilson. Fire Chief Jerry Jensen said he is excited about all eight, calling them a good group of candidates.
Jensen said Sears will be treated the same as any other firefighter on the department. The requirements for becoming a firefighter were not changed for Sears, Jensen said. He noted that Sears’ time on the agility test fell well within the guidelines for firefighters.
Challenges faced by firefighters drew her to the position, she said. Ohlquist agreed that her daughter loves a challenge, chiming in, “The harder (the challenge) is, the better.”
Sears said she also wants to give to the community as a firefighter. Her family has had losses and gains in addition to a family member’s house burning down. If she can be one more person at a fire helping, she will be, she said.
Ohlquist said she’s proud of her daughter for doing something for the community.
“Give to the community as the community gave to you,” Ohlquist said.
Candidates must complete several tests to be considered for a firefighter position. A written test must be passed and an interview in front of a five-member panel followed a week later, Sears said. Candidate are required to complete an agility test that includes physical tests at seven stations, Jensen said. Candidates are graded on how they perform at each station, he said.
The agility test included putting on firefighter gear and an air tank and then climbing up and down stairs, carrying a 50-pound tank of water, lifting ladders and dragging hoses. Candidates were also asked to pound a sledgehammer while standing on railroad ties, Sears said.
For Sears, the toughest part of the physical test was the station that included finding and dragging a dummy while wearing an air tank — all without the benefit of eye sight, she said. The exercise simulates how firefighters can be blinded by smoke at a fire.
Sears completed the agility test in 10 minutes 4 seconds. The fastest time was 9 minutes 5 seconds. She said she “held up pretty good” during the test. After completing the test she was exhausted, but proud of herself, she said.
Each of the eight new firefighters have received their pagers and will be expected to turn out if the department calls. At the same time, they will begin train, which consists of learning from a 36 chapter book, with each chapter representing about four hours of training, Sears said.