Mom of all Trades


Ashley Tidwell, 31, is currently the only active woman volunteer firefighter out of 35 members with the Alvaton Volunteer Fire Department in Alvaton, Ky. Out of over 1.1 million firefighters in the United States, only 7 percent of those are women. Tidwell has been a nurse for 11 years and a flight nurse for three. After witnessing and assisting in a motorvehicle crash, Tidwell realized her true calling. “In that moment I realized that in helping the fire and EMS who arrived, that I wasn’t fulfilling my calling.” Tidwell who was an emergency room nurse at the time said, “My heart belonged to pre-hospital.”

Tidwell started working with the Alvaton Fire Department in November of 2015. When first starting at the academy, Tidwell's initial intention was about doing more patient care in the pre-hospital setting. "I didn't initially have interest whatsoever in the fire side of it", Tidwell said. But after training and putting her turnout gear on for the first time, Tidwell was hooked. "There is something about running into a burning building when everyone else is running out", Tidwell said. 

Tidwell and her husband, Justin, leave Macy's, 8, soccer game with her two other girls, Emma, 10, and Abby, 6, where Tidwell was thankful to be able to catch the end of the game after teaching a CPR class on behalf of the Alvaton Fire Department. "My children sometimes have their moments and don’t understand why I’m not always there." Tidwell said, "When that happens I have the helicopter do a flyby or honk the engine on the way to a run as they are on the soccer or softball field, so that they can be reminded that mommy isn’t there because she’s helping others- not because she doesn't want to be."

Justin Tidwell helps his wife, Ashley Tidwell, with her weekly truck check at Alvaton Fire Department's station three. Justin plans to join the Alvaton Fire Department in January when the academy starts and in result "our goals for the future are aligning", says Ashley. 

After a day of work at Air Evac Lifeteam on a Monday, Tidwell spends her evening at the firehouse finishing up work from the day and chatting with two of her fellow firefighters. Being the only woman with the department, "we are all one family and I know my brothers are here for me as I'm here for them", Tidwell said. 

Tidwell finishes up a truck check after a long day of work. Truck checks happen weekly where Tidwell has to check to make sure all of the equipment on the truck is accounted for and working properly. 

While eating dinner with her husband, Tidwell's three daughters, Abby (left), Macy (middle) and Emma (right) play jumprope in their living room. "I say it all the time…I have a lot of jobs. My kids say it too. My favorite job, of all of these jobs, is being their mother", said Tidwell, "My greatest accomplishments in this world are not tasks completed or substance that I’ve produced. My greatest accomplishments are the little women that I’m raising. They are truly my pride and joy."

Tidwell had recently married her husband Justin in July of 2017. The two met when Tidwell had decided to take flying lessons and Justin was her flight instructor. Now flying is a big part of their life together and something the couple enjoys to take their mind off of things. "When we aren't overwhelmed with all of these things called life, we enjoy spending our free time in the air", Tidwell said.

Tidwell walks along Interstate 65 after responding to an auto accident which was her only call for the evening. "It's rewarding in a way that not many can speak to", Tidwell said, "I am a public servant at heart and I will always strive to deliver on this passion that's innate."

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