Spartanburg Firefighter Transitions from Track Champion to Heroic Engine Driver

Spartanburg’s Firefighter Star

Sergeant Makenzi Holmes: From Discus to Fires

There’s no one quite like Sergeant Makenzi Holmes, a firefighter from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Growing up in Arizona, Holmes fancied herself a future WNBA player. But, as life would have it, physical prowess lay dormant in a different field: discus throwing.

“I threw the discus one day during PE class and I threw it further than any other girl in the class,” Holmes recalls. This serendipitous moment paved her path from high school track and field to a triumphant victory as a Big South discus champion during her time as a student at High Point University. From the university’s running track, she even made her way to the NCAA Track and Field Championships.

Swapping Tracks For Fire Hoses

After a stint in coaching, Holmes felt the pull of another, completely different career. Becoming a full-time firefighter felt like the right adventure to dive into. Ready and eager, she reached out to the Spartanburg Fire Department and, before long, found herself in the thick of intense training.

Weaving athletics into her day-to-day duties wasn’t a steep learning curve for her. In fact, she credits being “physically driven and having the desire to achieve more” with helping her adapt to her new surroundings. Holmes also highlights the importance of fortitude and grit in what is traditionally a male-dominated environment. “I think for all women, it’s possible, but it does definitely take a specific mindset.”

And the good news? She’s not treated differently by her fellow heroes.

“I’m very fortunate,” says Holmes. “I’m surrounded by a bunch of guys who don’t view me as just a girl, for which I could not be more thankful. I mean, my crew goes above and beyond.”

A Day in the Life of a Firefighter

Sergeant Holmes has served as an engineer for almost a year now. Her responsibilities range from driving the robust fire truck of Station 3 on Magnolia Street to more nuanced tasks closer to campus.

And the thrill of her job hasn’t worn off one bit. Holmes gets to do the job she loves, and the excitement remains undimmed. “Every single time. I don’t know that I’ll ever go away, it’s exciting… it’s just like the thrill of getting to do what we get to do,” she beams.

In a world that’s constantly changing, Sgt. Holmes and her fellow firefighters demonstrate that one can shape their own paths, from throwing discus to fighting fires. The underlying spark is the passion and dedication one brings to their chosen profession. Holmes serves as an example of grit and determination, continually shattering stereotypes and setting new norms.