San Diego Fire Chief Lorraine Hutchinson blazes trail for women [Video]

SAN DIEGO — Young fire recruits trained vigorously at Southwestern College Tuesday, learning hands-on skills they’ll need to become professional firefighters. The group of 13 recruits, down from 27 who started the academy in August, practiced putting out simulated car fires and used chainsaws to ventilate a makeshift roof, carefully cutting through the plywood while not severing the support rafters.

“Everything we do is a teamwork skill,” said fire recruit Alexandra Loitz. “That way you can have someone whose looking out for you while you’re looking out for them. If there needs to be a change in strategy, if they see something you don’t, then you can work together to figure something out.”

Loitz is one of two women who started the current academy class. The …