Influential Woman · Fire Prevention

Kristen Bozarth

Fire Code Enforcement Compliance Officer, NJ Department of Community Affairs-Division of Fire Safety

Trenton, NJ

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's degree (in progress Degree A few credits shy of completion) Cert Firefighter Cert Fire Official Cert Fire Investigator

Her Story

About Kristen

Bozarth began in the fire service in 2001 as a volunteer firefighter/EMT for her township. From there, she became a career firefighter, emergency medical technician, and fire safety inspector, holding multiple titles under one job. In 2016, she transitioned to the state level with New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety as a fire safety inspector. When Bozarth started at the state level, there was only one other woman who was getting ready to retire, and she warned her it was going to be tough. For a number of years Bozarth was the sole female. Bozarth helped inspire female applicants and the NJ Bureau of Fire Code Enforcement now boasts an approximately 20% female fire inspection staff. Bozarth now holds a promotional title as a compliance officer since 2024, one of three females in promotional roles, and the highest ranking official female at the division. Throughout her career, from tough lessons, she learned how to speak up and in doing so, she spoke up for women as a whole.

Some of her notable career actions were:

Bozarth and former colleagues received a teamwork citation for a CPR save of a near drowning child during her firefighter/EMT career.

Early in her career with the division she addressed the NJ State Fire Code Advisory Council with a proposal for fire code language changes upon the “Escape Room” trend to ensure safety of participants.

As a compliance officer for the division, she recently advocated for the expansion of the unit to further ensure compliance with NJ state statutes and regulations.

Bozarth possesses drive, skill, knowledge and unwavering determination. She plans to continue her career in holding high standards for public safety in NJ.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Kristen

01What do you attribute your success to?

I personally attribute my success to having three brothers and a very supportive volunteer fire company here in Delran in Burlington County. They were so tremendously supportive in training me, and I never once felt turned away or told I couldn't do this. My three brothers and my volunteer fire company felt like home, like family, and they really laid the groundwork. That was rare, because in 2001, there was still a lot of animosity to women in the fire service, but I had my three biological brothers around me and then a whole team of them that wasn't like 'she's too small' or 'she can't.' They were like 'you're gonna do this,' and they worked with me and helped me. That's a rarity. I really credit all those people that didn't turn me away, that didn't say 'we don't want you.' They accepted me and trained me. It was really a good environment. They were my village, and I'm still in contact with pretty much almost all of them, some of them have retired or passed on, but they were my village.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would tell them to trust your gut and stay with your heart. Don't let anybody shake you, because there were many times in my past where I could have just threw in the towel, and something inside me was just like, I got this. I would just tell them to stay with their gut and keep going. Don't look back, because it can get tough. For the most part, it's gotten better, but there's still a ways to go as far as being respected as an equal. I've learned in my profession that I've had to learn how to speak up for myself, and in doing so, I spoke up for women as a whole.

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