![]() ![]() In an in-depth conversation, Turay spoke to Tie u Orja about the different aspects of her role in the fire force, her experiences as a woman in what is still a male-dominated field, and why it’s important to break down gender barriers for the greater good of society. The country needs more trained firefighters, and gender should be no bar, says Turay, to “make a difference” in the community. Sierra Leone is highly prone to fire hazards, including wildfires exacerbated by climate change and disastrous outbreaks in overcrowded urban areas. Training was a challenge, she says, but she kept going because she had other women firefighters to look up to, and now wants "other young girls to be inspired by the example I try to set every day". Sergeant Memunatu Turay, first-class officer in the National Fire Force, believes that her gender has never interfered with her ability to do her job, which includes not only putting out fires, but also attending to rescue calls, being at the forefront of disaster operations, and promoting community awareness about fire safety. This belief has traditionally kept women away from the fire force, but with gender norms being challenged in general, this is slowly changing in Sierra Leone. There is an implicit, and pervasive, perception that firefighting is a man’s job. ![]()
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