Kylie Anderson overcame self-doubt to become a decorated public servant
By Kastle Waserman
KYLIE ANDERSON WASN’T sure what she wanted to be when she grew up. In high school, the Parker native participated in sports but admits studying in a classroom wasn’t for her. She joined a college-preparedness program called AVID to explore her strengths and thought perhaps she would pursue a career as a paramedic or nurse.
At the same time, a spot opened in the South Metro Firefighters Explorer program, which gives young individuals ages 16 to 21 an inside look at firefighting through hands-on training and career development activities.
“The first night, they gave us our uniforms and gear, and we did a really hard workout,” Anderson recalls. “I thought, there’s no way I can do this.”
But as she continued through the program, something clicked—she realized this might be her path. “I love these people that I get to train with and do hard things with,” she says.
Now 25, Anderson has been with the fire department for six years. She credits her mentors with guiding her and helping her feel confident in her career choice. “As we grow up, it’s important to find older people to see what we want to be like,” she says. “And the list of people that I could look up to was so long. Now, I get to work with all those people!”
The physical demands of firefighting are intense. Firefighters must carry and move with roughly 150 pounds of gear. To prepare, Anderson signed up for cross-country running in school and recently began bodybuilding. “Signing up to be a firefighter means being fit for the rest of your life,” she says.
As the only female in her Explorer program, Anderson admits she initially doubted she could handle the role. Finding other female firefighters, however, gave her the confidence she needed. Today, she serves as both a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), with daily duties that include checking gear, participating in training drills, and responding to emergency calls ranging from car accidents to grass fires along freeways.
Anderson takes particular pride in being selected as a Recruit Training Officer (RTO), responsible for training and instilling core values in new firefighter recruits. “I’ve been able to teach four academies. It’s equally the hardest and the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done,” she says. “I’ll be getting an RTO pin. Less than one percent of our department has one. It’s one of the greatest privileges I could have imagined.”
Another pin on her uniform is the Life Saving Award, given when a firefighter brings someone back to life from a medical emergency.
The South Metro Fire Station is fortunate to have Anderson on its team. And to think, she wasn’t sure she could do it. “When I first looked into it, I thought, ‘Can I really do this?’” she says. “I decided I had to try, and it all worked out. It’s been the greatest career I could’ve asked for. It’s been amazing.”
