Woman becomes Indianola's first-ever full-time female firefighter
23-year-old Jill Burrell says she has wanted to be a firefighter since she was a child. She hopes her story inspires other women not to be afraid to enter careers typically dominated by men.
23-year-old Jill Burrell says she has wanted to be a firefighter since she was a child. She hopes her story inspires other women not to be afraid to enter careers typically dominated by men.
23-year-old Jill Burrell says she has wanted to be a firefighter since she was a child. She hopes her story inspires other women not to be afraid to enter careers typically dominated by men.
Indianola has hired the city's first-ever full-time female firefighter.
Jill Burrell, 23, was promoted from part-time to full-time firefighter and paramedic on Aug. 9. Burrell says she has wanted to be a firefighter since she was 6-years-old.
"I just want people to know, especially girls, that they can do this. That they can be firefighters when they grow up. It's not just a man's field. It's women too," Burrell said.
Greg Chia, Indianola's fire chief, says Burrell passed rigorous physical and cognitive tests, as well as grueling interviews to get the position.
"She earned this position," Chia said. "I think she will be one of the 30-year career people here. She really has those qualities."
Chia says the Indianola Fire Department has been in existence since 1885, but did not become a full-time department until 1998.
Burrell says she has received only positive feedback from her colleagues and the public since her hiring was announced.
"Everywhere I go they are like, congratulations!" Burrell said.
Burrell, who stands at 5-foot-1 says the physical parts of the job are definitely the most challenging, but she always perseveres.
"I am a smaller person so I am not built as well as the men, but still mighty so I can still get the job done," Burrell said.