Ashley O’Neil, a member of the Ktunaxa Nation, is the owner and designer of AshFireWear. With nearly two decades of firefighting experience, both as a structural and wildland firefighter, Ashley identified a gap in women-specific personal protective equipment (PPE). Prior to firefighting, she worked in the oil patch, where she realized the absence of fire-resistant gear for women. In response, she founded AshFireWear in 2020, offering custom-fitted, environmentally friendly PPE made from 100% natural materials. The company’s products include eco-friendly fire-resistant spray, brass zippers, and cotton-wool blend thread, and cater to female firefighters, miners, oil field workers, and others.
Beyond her business, Ashley coordinates training programs on BC reservations, teaches and certifies new firefighters, and is bringing back cultural burning practices in the Kootenays. Additionally, she works with non-Indigenous communities with prescribed burning practices to mitigate uncontrollable wildfires. As a respected instructor, medic, and crew leader, she is dedicated to enhancing firefighter safety and efficiency.
