Angelica Stroud wanted to be a teacher when she grew up. It was a natural fit for her; she was known for her love of people and children. One day, however, Angelica witnessed a house fire that involved some extended family members. The fire left several children with permanent burns, and it not only broke Angelica’s heart, but it struck a chord. She was inspired by the firefighters’ bravery, and wanted to do the same – save lives and protect the community.

It wouldn’t be the first time a fire would change life’s path for Angelica.

Angelica joined the City of Durham, N.C., Fire Department in 1997. Being a rookie in the department is tough, not to mention being a women in a male-dominated profession.

“I gave it my all,” she said. “I felt like I had to prove myself to the guys.” Angelica did, and won the respect of her colleagues as a team player who had the commitment and the physical strength needed to be a firefighter. She has since blazed through the ranks, becoming the first female African-American fire captain.

But soon thereafter her life changed when her elderly uncle was the victim of a fire that could have been prevented with proper fire safety education. Through tragedy she found inspiration and left the fire station for a community-based role with the department as Public Information Officer. She founded the Senior Citizen Safety Program in honor of her uncle, and visited with more than 250 senior citizens in a year’s time, teaching new ways for seniors to handle hazardous situations.

"As the community relations coordinator and public information officer, it was a priority for me to reach out to seniors. Many have not been taught how to deal with a hazardous situation, especially when it comes to new technology.” She hit as many senior centers and housing facilities as she could so that she could spark public awareness of fire prevention within the elderly community. Angelica’s altruism won her the Heroism and Community Service Award from Firehouse Magazine.

Angelica recently returned to combat at the fire station with the hope of becoming a chief one day. She’s in no rush though. She loved her time serving in the community and helping the elderly, and says she’s really happy to be fighting fires again.
Firehouse Subs salutes Angelica, our hero, for her undying commitment to fire prevention education, and for the untold number of lives she’s saved.