Though I have over 5 years of experience being a volunteer firefighter in other states, the good ol' boy network in this area makes it difficult for a female to join. Women are welcomed to run ambulance, not firefighting. It is a shame since they say they "need people". I worked just has hard as the guys did in my department, and yes I was able to do the same work they did and in same cases I was better at it because I could fit in areas they could not. I have also experienced the un-welcome responses when I inquired about joining my local department.
No clue where you're located, but I run with probably the biggest good ol' boy department in Southern Maryland, and we have three female 'firefighters' (one is a paramedic).
No offense to female firefighters... they work just as hard, and can be better in some areas.
HOWEVER!
Male or female, I would hate to be paired up with a little 4' 11" lighweight, and have a 'problem' that incapacitated me anywhere but the first floor. I hate to imagine being dragged by my strap down one or more flights of stairs with my head bouncing off every step on the way down.
Chicks rock. We need more.
When I took my first fire class, I was paired up with a girl that was all of 5'2 and about 115 pounds. My first thought was great, this is gonna go far. They charged the line at 150psi, and we went to work on a simulated basement fire. Her leverage kept the pressure off of me. Just because they're little, don't assume they can't do the job. It's not always about being big and muscular on some things. No doubt that being big and muscular is a major help when firefighting, but leverage is huge too.
Back to the subject, typically, you put in an application, they may do a background check (we do this, plus fingerprinting), they process that, when the results are received back, you're notified to attend either a business meeting or special meeting where you're either approved or denied (I haven't seen anyone denied yet..) After this, you're put on a probation period where you may be required to attend fire classes, medical classes, attend a pre-basic oreintation program, get familiar with all the apparatus and the like. While you're a member, make all your meetings and drills, get familiar with the apparatus and how your department operates, because every department is different. Learn when your department puts hose on the ground (there's a yellow department to my north that puts hose on the ground on EVERY single fire call, whereas we only usually lay out on structure fires).
When you first join, whether you're male or female, unless you know practically EVERYONE in the department, you're going to get weird looks and people are going to feel you out. Remember, the department is a brotherhood. Not everyone gets to be in it, not everyone is cut out for it. You'll be tested your first 6-12 months there. Usually within your first two or three calls, you'll know whether or not you're fit for it.
Good luck!
Plus, I'm a guy. And I brought pizza with me first time I dropped in. 
But I just can't picture a small male or female shouldering my 6'3" 220 pound frame down 3 flights of stairs... It's thud. thud. thud. thud. all the way down... 
