DIVERSE FIRE TRUCK DRIVERS

[Anchor Lead]

Driving huge fire trucks which are called to urgent scenes of fire has been a task exclusively for men. But these days, women are just as actively engaged as their male counterparts. Take a look.

[Pkg]

[Soundbite] "Report to fire, report to fire."

Fire fighters receive an order to report to a scene. The person behind the wheel of this massive fire truck is a woman with 12 years of experience under her belt.

[Soundbite] FIRE MARSHAL SIN JOO-YEONG(BOEUN FIRE STATION, CHUNGCHEONGBUK-DO PROV.) : "We are the first arrival squad immediately trailing the command vehicle."

The vehicle weighs more than 10 tons with a 3000 liter water tank and handling the truck is no easy task. But she's been driving for 2 years now, testifying to her exceptional skills.

[Soundbite] FIRE MARSHAL SIN JOO-YEONG(BOEUN FIRE STATION) : "Tasks are rather limited for women fire fighters. I wanted to break out of that and continue to do my best for citizens' safety."

She still practices her driving skills, in order to reach a scene of fire quicker.

[Soundbite] PARK SANG-YEOB(BOEUN FIRE STATION) : "She is more active on the scene than men and is even more capable of operating fire trucks."

Firefighter Hong Sa-hyeon is the first female driver to handle a huge ladder truck. When she heard that women can also apply for the job, she underwent a grueling 2 month training period and finally secured the position.

[Soundbite] HONG SA-HYEON(SEOBU FIRE STATION, CHEONGJU) : "I want to become a competent firefighter capable of proficiently handling all vehicles and equipment."

These female firefighters see themselves as no different to their male counterparts, and continue to strive for public safety.