IWD: Big Talk with Josephine Reynolds

FIRE WOMAN - Josephine Reynolds blazing a trail in firefighting history.

This is the inspirational true story of a determined young woman in 1982 using sheer grit to assert her independence. She applies for the local fire service, unwittingly becoming a media star, being revered by feminists, and despised by the completely male-dominated and testosterone-fuelled world of the brigade. With the eyes of the world watching, what will happen to her as she faces constant judgements and pressures to prove herself in a culture that insists that this is a man's job?

Free-spirited and adventurous Jo was drawn to explore, leaving behind a promising fire service career to join expeditions in South America and S.E Asia; found The Silk Road Design Co with a Trading Company in Southern China, pack up and move to the island of Koh Samui, Thailand in 2006.

Travelling constantly Jo was exposed to huge inequalities, Relocating to Cambodia to help a locally run NGO. Heading out on one of the first planes into the Philipines after Super Typhoon Haiyan hit Jo stayed a month here, publishing articles. As Nepal’s 2015 earthquake struck Jo was commissioned to write for UN Women (SE Asia). 

Jo has travelled full circle to write a memoir, Fire Woman, and is regularly in the media, and provided expert opinion for the BBC reacting to incidents such as the catastrophic fire that destroyed Grenfell Tower.

Voted one of EDP Norfolk's 100 most Inspiring Women 2020

Social Media Handles:

• Website
• Jo Reynold's Facebook
• Buy 'Fire Woman' Book here
• FIRE WOMAN Facebook Page
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Instagram