Trailblazing firefighter Arlene Wehr retires after 30 years of service

Arlene Wehr, one of the City of Cape Town’s most senior firefighters and a trailblazer for women in the service, has retired after nearly 30 years on the front line.

Wehr joined the City’s Fire and Rescue Service in 1996, becoming only the third woman in the service at the time, after leaving a private-sector job to follow family members into firefighting.

Her career was marked by a series of historic firsts. In 2004, she became the service’s first female Station Officer. In 2014, she was appointed its first female Divisional Commander. In June 2019, she was named Head: Operations – District West, making her the first woman to serve at that level since the Fire and Rescue Service was established in 1845.

Beyond her operational role, Wehr was widely recognised for her leadership and impact on transformation within the sector. She received a City Lifetime Achiever Award in 2016 for advancing gender equality and was elected Vice President of the South African Emergency Services Institute in 2019. She also led City delegations to international competitions, including the World Firefighter Games and World Rescue Challenges.

As she steps into retirement, Wehr said the bonds forged in the service would stay with her for life.

“As I step into retirement, I carry with me the countless memories of the bonds forged on the fire ground … the long nights, the difficult days and the moments of triumph and relief. These are memories I will hold close for the rest of my life,” she said.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said Wehr’s career had broken barriers and opened doors for those who followed.

“Assistant Chief Fire Officer Arlene Wehr’s career shines in the remnants of the glass shards she left in her wake as she broke through one glass ceiling after another. She has illuminated the path for others to follow,” Smith said, thanking her for her service to Cape Town.

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Cape Argus