Beatrice Jarra: Skilful firefighter in Weija District

A firefighter is a rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten property and civilian or natural populations. His or her work also entails rescuing people from dangerous situations, such as collapsed or burning buildings or crashed vehicles.

This job is considered the preserve of men and it is not common to see women working as firefighters.

In Ghana, most women who work with the Ghana National Fire Service are stationed in the Watch and Control rooms and reception, where their work entails receiving emergency calls and administrative work.

However, for Group Officer Two (II) Beatrice Jarra, her intention was not to stay in the office, but rather to join the crew to be an active operational firefighter.

Critical decision

Since she took that decision when she was transferred to the Weija Fire Station in 2007, Madam Jarra, who is the only operational female firefighter in the Weija District of the Ghana National Fire Service, has performed her duties excellently, working with her male colleagues.

When she joined the service in 1992, she was posted to the Watch and Control Room of the Sekondi-Takoradi Fire Station in the Western Region and was transferred to the Enchi Fire Station in 1998 for six months, then reposted to the Sekondi-Takoradi Station. 

She told the Daily Graphic that when she was transferred to the Weija Fire Station and was in the Control Room, she talked to Station Officer I Victor Addo about her intention to join the crew in fighting fire and since that critical decision was made, she has been joining the crew to the field.

She said it had not been easy being on the field, pointing out that they encounter smoke and there is also the problem of accessibility she added: “if you don’t have the zeal, you will fumble”.

Listening to command 

She said it was always important for a firefighter to listen to command so that he or she would achieve his or her aim.

Madam Jarra’s work as an operational firefighter involves fighting fire and rescuing accident victims, and she said sometimes, the condition of accident victims touched her, but she always received encouragement from her male colleagues who spur her on not to be discouraged. 

She works for 24 hours and takes a two-day off and her boss, Divisional Officer Grade III, Municipal Fire Commander Ben O. Carlis-Paitoo, says Madam Jarra is skilled in Road Traffic Collision (RTC) incidence, which involves extricating entrapped victims from damaged vehicles at accident scenes to hospitals.

Madam Jarra, who is married with two children, aged 14 and 10, encourages women not to think that some jobs are the preserve of men. “You need to do it, but not to think that you cannot do it. If you have the zeal and potential, do it and you can reach far,” she advised.