Worldwide firefighting community sending encouraging messages to young UK girl wishing to be firefighter

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: After Hannah Summers said on Twitter that her daughter Esme didn’t think girls could be firefighters, first responders replied with encouraging messages.

A mother’s tweet about her young daughter’s belief that she could not become a firefighter prompted female firefighters around the world to let her know she can be one too.

The inspiring thread began when Twitter user Hannah Summers tweeted that her 4-year-old daughter Esme thought she had to be a boy to be a firefighter, ITV reported.

“My 4 year old came home yesterday saying she wished she was a boy so she could be a fireman,” the tweet read. “When I said girls can be firefighters too she said ‘but I’ve seen in books they are all boys and I don’t want to be the only girl.’ Any good vids/books I can show her?”

Summers ended the tweet with the hashtag #FirefightingSexism, and West Midlands Fire Service was the first to respond with a short video letting Esme know that both boys and girls can be firefighters.

“Esme, lots of firefighters are girls and boys – some of them want to say hello to you!” The tweet read. “We would love to meet you and show you what we do. You can be a firefighter too!”

Firefighters soon followed suit and used #FirefightingSexism to deliver inspiring messages to Esme.