The front-page article in _The Riverfront Times_, St. Louis' most
liberal free weekly, was on female firefighters.  It was entitled "Trial
by Fire:  There are no female firefighters in the city.  Women like Beth
Brambilla (large color photo in full fire gear) intend to change that."

The article explores the issues in about as many different ways as they
can think of.

 FOR BACKGROUND:  There are no women firefighters in the CITY of St.
					  Louis.  There are a few in the COUNTY.
					  For some reason (hint:  expected lawsuits) the city
					  hired the local YMCA to hold special training classes
					  for women, to prepare them for the Phoenix test (which
					  simulates actual firefighting situations, like carrying
					  hose and ladders and breaking into roofs, and was
					  designed to be non-sexist).

					  The classes specifically prepare the women for the
					  test.  The classes are paid for by the city.  No men
					  were allowed to take the classes.

REVERSE DISCRIMINATION?
					  Needless to say, the men who plan to take the test in
					  August think this is an unfair advantage.
					  Officials maintain that (1) all applicants get to see
					  the test equipment and can use the equipment to train
					  (men pay a fee) and (2) "Rather than be forced by a
					  court order to hire women -- which most agree would
					  mean lowering the physical standards -- one official
					  says it's better to treat women as a 'protected class' and
					  and offer advanced training.

WHAT THE TROOPS THINK
					  "Firefighters interviewed by the RFT expressed a whole
					  array of concerns, ranging from the ability of women
					  to remain fit as they age ('I mean, look at our moms')
					  to the trouble working 24-hour shifts can pose some
					  firemen's wives, to strong worries that women won't be
					  able to save male firefighters should they collapse in
					  a blaze.  And, they add, they may have to change their
					  work demeanor in very basic ways -- from perhaps
					  removing their pin-ups on their lockers to curbing
					  their language and their pranks. . . . One St. Louis
					  firefighter noted that the city is now offering
					  firefighters instruction on sexual harassment,
					  teaching what exactly constitutes harassment and how
					  to avoid it.  'We've just been exposed to a sexual
					  harassment guide,' he says.  'None of it's intentional
					  but, boy, are we in trouble.'"

WHY THE WOMEN WANT IN
					  The answers are as varied as the women themselves.
					  One wants to be a 4th generation firefighter.  Some
					  are clerical workers looking for more interesting
					  jobs.  One is an unemployed med. tech.  One was in
					  the Army and now works in a medical office.  One is
					  a waitress.  When asked about dangers, one woman
					  said:  "The thought of death doesn't frighten me. . .
					  I mean, I could be behind my computer in an electrical
					  storm and get electrocuted."