A female firefighter in Queens is leading the charge to recruit more women into the FDNY.  NY1's Ruschell Boone filed the following report.

When the alarm sounds at Engine Company 275, Jackie-Michelle answers the call. 

In South Jamaica, these firefighters are known as the Merrick Boulevard Magic. Martinez has been one of them since 2006.

"I'm in a great house. A great battalion," she said. "I go to fire duty. I get to work with people who are extended family. 

But fighting fires is not her only mission. Martinez is the FDNY's first women's outreach coordinator.

The city has 58 female firefighters, an all-time high, and twice the number when Martinez became one, but that is still less than 1 percent of the force. She is working to change that.

"I don't think that everybody would want to be a firefighter, but I want everyone in the city and the five boroughs, especially Queens, to be exposed to one of the greatest careers in the city," Martinez said. 

When she is not assigned to the firehouse, she leads recruiting events like one at the Young Women's Leadership School in Jamaica.

The work is not just about giving speeches. It's hands-on. 

"Not only do I get to talk to them about my career, I also allow them to put on bunker gear, touch equipment, pull a hose," Martinez said.   

As for all that heavy equipment, she says women carry heavy loads more often than they think.

"You manage picking up your kids. You carry two or three of them in your arms. You go down the stairs, you have groceries. You sling one on your back, one on your shoulder," she said.

Asked about harassment, Martinez acknowledges that some male firefighters have not been welcoming to the women, but that at her firehouse, the guys have been great.

She became a firefighter almost by accident. Working in the fashion industry, she saw an FDNY recruiting poster seeking women. Now, her photo's in the FDNY's calendar. 

She says her goal is to have at least 200 women on the force, at least one in every firehouse.  

As for Martinez's own career, when we asked her what her dream job in the department was she said it was a secret.

"You'll just see it," she said. "Give me time."

In 11 years, she's come pretty far already.