Firefighting has traditionally been a profession dominated by men. But in 2025, we’re seeing more and more women stepping into the firefighter’s gear. The only problem is: that gear is still too often not made for their curves. How many women don’t fit into standard firefighter uniforms, and what are the consequences? Bodi.me, a London-based company focused on optimizing sizing systems, recently took a closer look.
Proportions differ for female firefighters
For Bodi.me, attending the UK’s National Fire Chief Council (NFCC) was the perfect opportunity to investigate whether the standard sizes of firefighter gear actually match the women who wear them.
A sample of female firefighters revealed that, in 75% of the cases, the hips were wider than the bust. Standard unisex firefighting clothing does not take this into account. After all, these uniforms are based on the male body, which has different proportions. Some women have hips wider than 115 centimeters, measurements that aren’t even listed in most sizing charts in this industry.
Because bust and hip measurements often differ, women typically need two different sizes according to standard sizing charts. For example, a size S for the top and an M for the bottom. Height is also often tied to clothing size, which means there are no well-fitting options for curvier women who are, for instance, 160 centimeters tall.
Consequences of ill-fitting firefighter gear
A firefighter suit that doesn’t fit properly can have serious consequences. When a suit is too loose in certain areas, there’s a risk that heat and fire particles can reach the skin, increasing the chance of burns. Gear that’s too tight or too loose also restricts mobility, which delays reaction time and increases the risk of injury, Bodi.me concludes.
This problem isn’t limited by national borders. Meredith McQuerry, Associate Professor at Florida State University, already showed in her 2020 research report (source) how mobility is compromised when wearing firefighter gear. The findings revealed that women have a 33% higher risk of injury than their male colleagues when wearing such gear. The cause: protective clothing that doesn’t fit properly.
Unfortunately, this issue still hasn’t been resolved in 2025. In July of this year, McQuerry published a new research report (source), focusing specifically on women’s firefighting gear. She examined the effectiveness of the sizing system under the NFPA1977 standard (Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting and Urban Interface Fire Fighting). She compared the 2016 and 2022 versions for female wildland firefighters, using the anthropometric data of 187 U.S. female firefighter participants. The results showed that, depending on the specific gear component being measured, the sizing systems did not match the women’s body measurements in 30.5% to 99.5% of the cases.
And yet, the 90,000 female firefighters across America continue to step into the flames to save others. All while being significantly less protected than their male counterparts. It’s time to stop looking only at the heroes, and start looking at the heroines, too.
