Inspiration within the Fire Service: Retired Deputy Chief Stephanie Julazadeh

March 23, 2026

We are proud to introduce Stephanie Julazadeh, retired Deputy Chief of Professional Standards from North Charleston Fire Department, who has also served the Spartanburg Fire Department and the Independent Fire Company station in West Virginia. She now serves as the coordinator for The South Carolina Burned Children’s Fund.

Her fire service career began in 1996 when she joined her local fire department at the age of fifteen.

“I always enjoyed helping people. And I liked doing physical work (grew up on a dairy farm). I joined the local volunteer fire department at 15 because it seemed fun and challenging,” she said.

She recalls her spark of passion for helping her community beginning in the third grade, when her teacher called on her to assist a fellow student who had been injured.

“I remember my 3rd-grade teacher pulled me out of the classroom to help calm a fellow student in the bathroom who had fallen down some stairs and had bleeding knees and elbows. It was very fulfilling to help calm her down and tend to her injuries,” she recalled.

As a female in a male-dominated profession, Stephanie has certainly faced her share of challenges, physically and mentally.

“I always felt I needed to work to 125% effort and prove myself to every coworker,” she said.

She urges people to view women in the fire service equally as capable of the job as men. She says, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” squashing the stereotypes female firefighters may face in the duration of their careers.

Stephanie believes that diversity in the fire service makes it stronger and more flexible. Combining people from different backgrounds and various thought processes strengthens a team, making them ready to efficiently respond to any call.

“The fire service responds to a wide variety of calls, including lots of medical calls. Having a diverse crew helps manage all the variety you encounter in calls for service,” she said. “I could handle pediatric medical calls better than my crew because they don’t have kid experience. My loudmouth crew member was perfect for the loudmouth patient who wouldn’t listen to anyone else. Everyone has strengths in something that the fire service responds to.”

While her time in the fire service has come to an end, she continues to leave her mark in her role as the coordinator of the Burned Children’s Fund, leaving an impact on child burn victims and their families.

“I was a tiny piece of the fire service that has come and gone. I enjoyed my time and am honored I got to help so many people,” she said.

We are so grateful to have had a leader like Stephanie in the South Carolina fire service and to have the opportunity to share her story. Additionally, we thank her for her continued dedication to the Burned Children’s Fund.