At nearly 40 years old, the mother of four children traded a quieter desk job at an emergency dispatch center for 24-hour operational shifts at the Holesovice fire station, becoming one of fewer than ten female front-line firefighters across the entire Czech Republic.
Joining the Front Lines at the Holesovice Fire Station
Stašková reached her goal just before turning forty, taking on grueling physical tests and 24-hour shifts in Prague. She chose the Holesovice station because its high volume of emergency calls allows newcomers to gain field experience quickly rather than languishing at a quieter, slower post. Before pulling on her bunker gear, she had to conquer a major hurdle in the swimming pool. While running came easily, she admitted to swimming “like a lady mayor” initially, prompting her to hire a private coach and log months of intensive pool training to clear the strict time limits.
Family Reactions and Adjustments at Home
Juggling the demanding schedule requires coordination with her husband, a developer who works from home. Their four children—ranging from a 12-year-old oldest son to a 6-year-old youngest daughter—reacted differently to the career shift. Her oldest daughter initially worried about her safety on dangerous calls, while her 7-year-old son became her most enthusiastic champion, loudly announcing her new career to everyone before she even passed her qualification exams. To stay practical on the job, Stašková also sheared off her long hair to avoid dealing with braids, helmet fittings, and lengthy post-shift drying times.
Inside Firehouse Culture
Life among male crews comes with a specific communication style that Stašková prefers over traditional office dynamics. She notes that male colleagues clear the air quickly by speaking their minds without holding grudges for weeks afterward. Her transition into the active service features prominently in the new book My hasiči (My Firefighters) by Jan David, which profiles Prague emergency crews across various specialized divisions.
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