TOPEKA (KSNT) - Women are breaking down barriers in firefighting and proving that saving lives has no gender. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that only 9% of women are firefighters across the country. Five out of 244 firefighters at the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) are wo men. The four first women with the TFD started serving the Topeka community in 1985. Cindy Holt, one of the first female firefighters hired in 1985, retired in 2015. Since then, although it has traditionally been a male-dominated field, multiple women have gone through the academy, and many share their thanks to the first four. Topekan wins bronze at World Special Olympics Diane Hawkins, a former firefighter and current fire inspector, has been on the job for 27 years. "They really paved the way for the rest of us to get on the job and be women in the fire service," Hawkins said. "You know, I give a lot of credit to them for coming into the fire service that was a male-dominated field."  As a firefighter, a second can be the difference between life or death. Since 1985, there has been a significant improvement in acceptance from fellow firefighters. They say they are treated with respect and support, not only from their fellow firefighters but also from the community. Alyssa Conway, a current firefighter with the TFD, often gets questions about why she chose to be a firefighter. "It's always positive," Conway said. "You know you tell people that you're going through the fire academy or joining the fire department, you get some surprised looks, but I think those are the best looks because you can tell them what it's all about."  Kansas law enforcement agencies sign up to help ICE conduct deportations Alyssa Coway after extinguishing a fire. Although Conway has been in the fire service for only a year, the spark was ignited long before she held a fire hose. Conway follows in her sister's footsteps. Chelsea Reece, a training officer for TFD, will have spent five years with the TFD as of this April. Conway and fellow firefighter BreAnna Droge went through the fire academy together. Droge was inspired by her neighbor to try TFD's Camp Courage. Camp Courage is a five-day training camp for young women ages 16 to 20 who want to explore a career opportunity in the fire service. BreAnna Droge during Camp Courage. "It's been probably the best journey I have ever taken," Droge said. "There are definitely the moments that are harder than others. It's an uphill battle some days but I wouldn't ask to be anywhere else."  For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. ...read more read less