Mabel Munn is celebrated as the first Black Woman firefighter in Whiteville, Columbus County, NC

By Mara McJilton/ WECT - Updated: Feb. 28, 2022 at 6:11 PM EST

WHITEVILLE, N.C. (WECT) - When Mable Munn walks into the Whiteville Fire Department, people take notice, but that wasn’t always the case.

“I would walk in here into the fire station and no one — a certain group — wouldn’t speak to me, but that didn’t bother me, that didn’t stop me,” Munn said.

Munn was the first female Black fire fighter in Columbus County.

“I did everything those men did,” Munn said. “I know how to put the hose on the racks — they taught me how to use the air packs. But, one thing I didn’t do was drive the truck.”

She started volunteering at the Whiteville Fire Department back in September of 1979 with a goal of making a difference in the community. Munn said back in those days, they got paid for their service, but that wasn’t always the case.

“To protect and to serve, that’s what that means,” Munn said.

Munn was back to visit the fire station on Monday, recalling her early days as a fire fighter and the effort she put in to give back. Even though it was challenging, Munn said it as all worth it.

“Stuff I learned while I was at the fire department — it’s still with me, it don’t never leave you — you always remember what you’re supposed to do,” Munn said.

Munn worked as a nursing assistant at a local nursing home when she decided that she wanted to continue giving back to her community as a volunteer fire fighter. She says she checked a lot of boxes in her more than 14 years at the department, but she wishes she could have driven the fire truck just one time.

“I think my most enjoyable days being at the fire department was just getting to know people in general,” Munn said. “And it’s good to know it’s how we saved lives.”

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Mabel Munn, The First African American woman firefighter in Columbus County history shares her story
by Matthew Huddleston/WWAY - February 28, 2022

WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) — Mable Munn decided to join the Whiteville Fire Department on a whim in 1974, becoming the first female African American firefighter in Columbus County.

Munn says she was confident from day one she could be successful but not everyone with the department felt the same way.

“Sometimes I would walk into the fire station and some of them wouldn’t even speak,” Munn said. “But I kept right on speaking. I said sooner or later they’ll get tired of me speaking and they

’ll start speaking.” Munn remained with the Whiteville Fire Department for over 14 years, switching careers in the late 1980s.

Despite the passage of time, Munn says she is still a firefighter at heart.

“If the fire chief in there would hire me, I’d probably try out again,” Munn said. “Just put on those boots and that turnout gear. Put the air pack on my back and go at it.”

Mable Munn’s grandson Bryan Munn says he’s proud of his grandmother and feels lucky to have a living piece of history in his family.

“Most of the time when we focus on history makers in the black community, most are dead and gone,” Bryan Munn said. “To know that my grandmother’s alive and she’s well, and to know that she’s now able to see the fruit of her labor is something great.”

Mable Munn says she would like more females to join the fire department and hopes to see an all female fire department one day.

She says being a firefighter is a lot of hard work but can be accomplished with enough determination.

“Nobody’s gonna give you nothing, you gotta go get it,” Mable Munn said. “I’m glad to know I went and got mine.”

Mable Munn says she still has a spike in adrenaline every time she hears a fire truck and continues to address issues she hears about within the fire department.