AS the only sister among seven brothers, it’s not hard to imagine why it would be a breeze for Crystal Joanna Taylor to pursue a job as a firefighter. The only female, on occasion, with as many as 12 firemen on a scene, memories of her days growing up in a predominantly male household would often kick in.

The 26-year-old fondly recalls her childhood days in Riverview, Ruimveldt, with her parents and siblings and said there wasn’t anything her brothers did that she wouldn’t also do. She understandably became a ‘tom boy’ among them and would not exclude herself from any of their activities.

Crystal didn’t have a specific career in mind, but when her mother told her what a firefighter does, she made it her goal to pursue a career in firefighting. Almost five years now with the Guyana Fire Service, Crystal said she is really enjoying the job and that she loves doing it.

Stationed at the fire service in Stabroek, a typical day would see Crystal equipping herself with her boots, helmet and jacket as she prepares to respond to a call with the rest of her team. Her superiors would make up the team, so her duties would vary depending on what she’s called on to do. But each time before they go out, the team would be briefed about the operation.

Crystal is often the lone female firefighter on the team, but having come to know the guys well, she feels comfortable with them and they’re all friends. So that makes everything easier for her.
As much as they look out for her and try to keep her from doing the things they perceive are dangerous, Crystal is always looking for an opportunity to prove to them that she can do the same things they can.

At times, even when they know that she’s capable of doing the job, there will still be some hesitation just because they’re dealing with a woman. For example, they may not want her to go in front where a fire is happening, or they may not want her to perform certain tasks. “But I keep insisting that I should do it,” she said.

“Males do have a tendency of underestimating you; you have to constantly keep proving yourself. It was hard to deal with at first, but as I got to know them I didn’t see the differences between us so much. At times, I have to show them that just what they can do, I can do it too; sometimes even better,” she expressed during an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

But this isn’t so difficult for Crystal to do. “Even though you have to constantly prove yourself showing that you can do the job, I grew up in a male household, so it wasn’t hard to get accustomed to.”

Crystal believes that having the right mindset is necessary. “Gender shouldn’t stop us from doing the things we want to. Being a woman is power in itself; you don’t have to prove anything to a man or anyone else but to yourself,” she offered.

But the friendships she has gained with her co-workers just make life a whole lot easier for her. “You gain that attachment to them, get accustomed to the conversations; of course, there will be boundaries; I’m very comfortable with them.”

At times Crystal would work in the control room, which she said is just as important as being in the fields responding to a fire. “Being a firefighter means that you have to serve and protect. Every day is something new. Sometimes I work in the control room, which is just as hard as going to a fire. We have to dispatch whatever is requested in an area.”

Crystal can still remember one of the most interesting experiences she’s had on the job. She had just started working and was responding to a fire in the wee hours of the morning. On the way back from that fire, though, the team received a call about another fire in the same East Coast area. Even though being deprived of sleep, they nevertheless had to respond.