Inspiration within the Fire Service: Firefighter Gracie Nordaby

March 30, 2026

This month, we have had the pleasure of sharing the stories of incredible women in our state’s fire service. Our final inspiring firefighter is the Owner/Instructor of Self-Reliance Fire Training, Gracie Nordaby.

Gracie was introduced to the fire service while she was in medical school. While there, she aimed to receive her EMT certification to help pay for her tuition.

“I took my EMT at a fire station in Spartanburg County,” she said. “The guys talked me into a ride-along, and I thought it was the coolest thing. I went to the chief the following day and asked him what I needed to do to be a firefighter.”

Throughout her career in the fire service, Gracie has felt the pressure of being a woman in a male-dominated career field. However, she doesn’t let that pressure stop her from doing what she loves.

“I’ve faced backlash as a female in this job. I don’t know many women who haven’t,” she said.“It’s always the same thing: ‘This is a man’s job’ or ‘You don’t belong here,’ so you work 10x harder, train more, and learn more, trying to prove yourself. But you can have one bad day or one job that didn’t go as well as you would’ve liked, and you’re right back to square one, trying to prove yourself all over again.”

Gracie recognizes the common misconceptions about women in the fire service, such as a lack of physical capability compared to men. However, she doesn’t see it that way.

“I’ve had people tell me, ‘Well, a woman’s body just isn’t built for that kind of physical work.’ How? Where? I can do anything the guys can do, even if I have to do it a little differently,” she said.

“I hate that there is such a prominent distinction between men and women when we’re all just people trying to help others and make a difference.”

When her time in the fire service comes to an end, Gracie hopes to leave her mark in an impactful way.

“My hope is to have passed something along to someone else that made them better in some way. Whether it be a technical skill, a survival technique, or even just an alternate perspective,” she said.

It was an honor to hear Gracie’s story, and we are proud to share it with others. Leaders like her make a true difference in the fire service, and we are grateful to have her here in South Carolina.