“You can’t teach heart” – these poignant words are proudly emblazoned across the sleeve of champion South African firefighter, Baigum Abrahams. As one of South Africa’s only female firefighters, Baigum has shown that heart is what sets a firefighter apart. As she shares, “Passion, dedication, love, and motivation can’t be taught – life requires innate drive, emotional investment and personal commitment.” And it’s this mindset which saw her compete amongst her European counterparts at the Toughest Firefighter Alive (TFA) in Germany this year. As the name suggests, TFA is a gruelling test of fitness, strength, wit and grit, or ‘heart’ as Baigum calls it. Globally, the world of firefighting is embracing inclusivity and TFA is doing its part to bridge the gender gap by pitting female and male firefighters against the same challenges which are set up to simulate what firefighters do on a daily basis. Something which doesn’t ruffle Baigum’s feathers at all, “Firefighting demands the same from both men and women and everything in between; we’re all trained to the same standard and equipped with the same skills. The TFA is a circuit set up the same way for men and women – just like out in the field.”
From Lifesaver to Firefighter: A Career Defined by Purpose
Baigum’s ethos is echoed in her life’s story which saw her career pivot from a lifesaver to a firefighter, spurred on by a life-changing experience, “After my house nearly burned down, I saw and felt just how much responsibility firefighters shoulder; and I wanted to give that feeling to people, to help make the worst day of their life a little better;” she adds. Today Baigum has been with Cape Town Fire + Rescue, stationed at Mitchell’s Plain Fire Station for 9 years.
The Drive to Excel: Competing at Toughest Firefighter Alive
Baigum’s ‘why’ is beautifully demonstrated by the commitment she exhibits in all arenas – as a firefighter, as a mother and a fitness junkie. She truly embodies her purpose. However, she reminds others that a firefighter must never become complacent. When asked why she chose to compete in TFA, she responds, “The TFA circuit is a reflection of how much work you actually put in – it will boil down to how badly you want it, how much work you’re willing to put in; it’s a moment where we can be completely honest with ourselves. The European firefighters are amongst the world’s best competitors, so it’s a good gauge to test where I am at. Being a firefighter also means that you need to be committed and open to continuous learning and growing, which is one of the things I personally love; I decided to stay in Europe a little longer to do more competitions with them, train with them and study ways to improve my performance.” As with any national competition, athletes from other countries cannot be awarded an official ranking, but that didn’t deter Baigum from tackling TFA and placing 3rd place in her age category in Europe (females aged 30+); 6th in Europe overall (females) and 94th overall in both categories (male and female).
Beyond Strength: The Role of Mental Fortitude and Essential Gear
Firefighters have to think on their feet and make split-second life-or-death decisions. Demonstrating that as a rescue worker, you can’t prepare for every eventuality so a sharp wit and sound mind are invaluable. Aside from a strict fitness and strength training regime, Baigum also advocates for mental health – which is often the hidden cost of life as an frontline worker – by engaging in gentler forms of exercise that speak to restorative practices. For Baigum compassion, composure, good communication and willingness to learn are the soft skills that make a good firefighter, but these things alone are not enough to brave the fire, so to speak. Firefighters are entirely reliant on their safety gear and PPE; without it they cannot face the multitudinous hazards that a rescue presents. There are a myriad of factors that separate the good PPE from the bad, and nobody feels this more than the end-user “Heart is one thing but beyond that it is PPE which gives you the edge… out on the frontline there’s a lot you can overlook when it comes to poorly-performing PPE but over time it will be felt, and worse yet, you as a firefighter will be the direct casualty of this.”
The CHARNAUD® Partnership: Innovation on the Frontline
Baigum’s dedication and prowess garnered the attention of leading PPE manufacturer CHARNAUD®, and it is CHARNAUD®’s sponsorship and belief in Baigum which has enabled to compete at TFA with some of the world’s best firefighters. “We are exceedingly proud to have Baigum wearing our PPE and showing the world how and why high-performance PPE makes all the difference. As a frontline worker, Baigum’s firsthand experience has given us invaluable insight into what gives PPE the edge and how we can use this knowledge to take our Bunker Suits innovation to new heights.” says CHARNAUD® Technical Manager, Robin CHARNAUD. “Safety gear is a gamechanger. I’ve been there at times when PPE has failed or hampered my ability. I wear my CHARNAUD® FIRE-SAFE® Bunker Suit when I’m training because I want to know I can perform at my best with my PPE, whatever the situation. Knowing that CHARNAUD® values my input when it comes to enhancing the safety and performance of their Bunker Suits is something I’m proud of too,” adds Baigum. In Baigum’s world, industry-leading PPE and having ‘heart’ is what sets her apart, and is something she carries with her, “A personalised message on my gear means I now literally carry my heart on my sleeve — a constant reminder of why I do what I do.”
