Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

Some consider fighting fires to be a man’s job, but as long ago as the bucket brigades of the 19th century, women have bravely played an important—if sometimes invisible—role in firefighting. A collection below features 23 stunning black and white photographs of female firefighters from between the 1920s and 1940s, via BuzzFeed.

1916, The UK Women’s Fire Brigade takes a salute. (Photo by Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1916, Preparing for a fire drill. (Photo by Topical Press Agency / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1916, Conducting a drill with hoses and extinguishers. (Getty)

1916, Members of the Woman’s Fire Brigade with their chief officer. (Photo by Topical Press Agency / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1916, Putting a fire escape into position. (Photo by Topical Press Agency / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1922, Training with hosepipes. (Photo by Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1925, Women of Achille Serre Ltd’s Private Fire Brigade head off to compete in the London Fire Brigades’ Tournament. (Photo by Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1926, A member of the Achille Serre Ladies Fire Brigade in London. (Photo by Fox Photos / Getty Images)

1928, Two firefighters during a drill. (Photo by Topical Press Agency / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1928, Demonstrating the use of a portable fire extinguisher. (Photo by Brooke/Topical Press Agency / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1928, A rescue drill in progress. (Photo by Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

1930, Staff of the Girls Fire Brigade in Berkshire. (Photo by Fox Photos / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1938, a female firefighter models a new uniform. (Photo by Central Press / Getty Images)

1939, Group of Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) women “keeping fit” with a game of leap-frog. (Photo by Fox Photos / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1939, An AFS member during morning inspection at a Manchester fire station. (Photo by Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1940, AFS women work at the London fire regional control room. (Getty Images/Keystone)

1941, New recruits in the control room at London’s Auxiliary Fire Service. (Photo by Fred Morley/Fox Photos / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1941, chorus girls respond to the call for volunteer “fire watchers” are trained by the Newcastle Fire Brigade.

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1941, Women train at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard during WWII. (Photo by Hulton Archive / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1941, Training at the UK’s Royal Northern Hospital in Holloway practice for blitz fires. (Photo by Keystone / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1942, Training at the Imperial War Museum Fire Fighting School. (Photo by Fox Photos / Getty Images)

1942, Female firefighters during a skills demonstration. (Photo by Keystone / Getty Images)

Stunning Vintage Photos of Female Firefighters From Between the 1920s and 1940s

1942, Volunteer fire guards stow away a hose into a portable trailer. (Photo by Hulton Archive / Getty Images)