Yuma Rural Metro Firefighter Donina Carr Leads Black History Month Kickoff

Local mom Donina Carr has been a firefighter for over a decade, and her story opened a Black History Month series that spotlights community leaders who shape Yuma’s safety and civic life. Carr’s path into the fire service began with a chance conversation at a campus gym, and her journey now centers on mentoring, station leadership and encouraging new recruits.

Carr recounted how a fire captain stopped her while she was a student and told her, “We need more women in the fire service. We don't have too many women in the fire service, and, you know, it'd be a great opportunity.” She said she responded by learning more and acting quickly. “So I asked him to tell me a little bit more about it because at the time I was going to school for criminal justice. So he told me about it, and I was like, 'Oh that sounds fun.'” She described the next steps plainly: “And so, I went to school the next day, changed my major to fire science, signed up for EMT, did my homework on what it is to be a firefighter and a woman in the service, and then that's how my journey started.”

Carr frames her work around visible leadership. “To lead by example. Set a good example. Set a positive example,” she said, and she urges prospective firefighters to be informed and intentional: “For anyone interested in the role, she encourages them to do their research, and do it for the right reasons.”

Colleagues at the station say Carr’s influence goes beyond training. “She does keep us in task around here at the station, constantly keeps us going. But yeah definitely, she's a special person,” said Rural Metro firefighter Martin Guzman. Rural Metro EMT Jaimes Meza added, “Definitely keeps the station alive on a daily basis, getting us to do team activities and training together. And we do weekly or Sunday meals or whatnot, and yeah, she's a big part of that for sure.” Those routines of shared meals and joint training contribute to a resilient station culture that supports quicker, coordinated emergency responses across Yuma County.

Carr’s profile matters for public health and equity in Yuma. Representation in emergency services helps build trust with diverse neighborhoods and can improve outreach on fire safety, emergency preparedness and community health education. Mentoring younger recruits and showing a pathway from local schools to first-response careers can also help address workforce retention and ensure stations reflect the community they serve.

Her story is a reminder that recruitment and retention strategies and investment in training are community health priorities as much as workforce issues. Readers interested in first-response careers can follow Carr’s advice: research fire science and EMT programs and consider motivations and community impact before applying. The profile appeared as the series kickoff on Feb. 3, and Carr’s example suggests the series will highlight other local leaders whose service shapes Yuma’s public safety and social fabric.