little flameWhat are figures for diversity in the career fire service in the United States?
As reported in the NFPA U.S. Fire Department Profile through 2006, quoting estimates (estimates are variable due to small sample size) from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the 2002-2006 period, there were approximately 25,400 African-American career firefighters (9% of total career firefighters) and 11,600 female career firefighters (4% of total career firefighters). These figures include fire inspectors. Also see this link.