First female firefighter ever to appear in FDNY's sexy Calendar of Heroes makes history after being told it was 'only for men'

For the first time in history, a female firefighter has appeared in the New York Fire Department's annual Calendar of Heroes.
Danae Mines, an 11-year veteran of Engine Co. 6 in South Bronx, is one of only 41 female firefighters in the 11,080-strong force, and was initially told that only men could star in the calendar.
'I was told that it was all guys,' Ms Mines told the New York Daily News, adding: 'I wasn’t going to let anyone tell me I couldn’t do what I wanted to do. I was determined.'

Miss March: Danae Mines (pictured) has made history as the first woman to appear in the FDNY's annual Calendar of Heroes, despite being told that it was an honor reserved only for men

Ms Mines beat out more than 100 men at the nerve-wracking open call, after she saw a flyer for it on the wall of her firehouse and decided to audition, against the advice of her
peers.
'They said if I made it in the calendar, I would look like a pinup girl,' she said. But unlike her male counterparts, who typically strip down to reveal their bulging pecs in honor of the role, Ms Mines opted to keep her uniform on for the shoot.
Joining the FDNY has been a dream since she was just 10 years old, but Ms Mines admits her family offered her 'absolutely no support' when she first shared her intentions.
She became an EMT instead, but when she was offered a promotion to become a firefighter in 2003, she eagerly took it, and says that once she graduated from the Fire Academy, her family 'could not stop bragging' about her achievement.

Challenging the status quo: Ms Mines (pictured at the calendar's signing event in New York) is one of only 41 female firefighters in the FDNY, and received 'no support' from her family when she first decided to join

Determined: Ms Mines is an 11-year veteran of Engine Co. 6 in South Bronx, and hopes she can inspire other women to join the force, and to challenge the job's gender stereotypes

Ms Mines loves her job and takes her crucial role very seriously. 'When I step foot into the firehouse, I have to be able to tell myself that I’m willing to risk my life to save someone else,' she says.
Ultimately, she hopes that her appearance in the calendar could inspire other women to join the force as well, and to challenge the job's gender stereotypes.

'I wanted my picture in the calendar so that young girls and young women can see me and know that they can do this job'

'I wanted my picture in the calendar so that young girls and young women can see me and know that they can do this job,' she said.
Ms Mines was in News York's Times Square yesterday to sign copies of the calendar, which costs $17.95, with all proceeds donated to the FDNY Foundation.

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