SC city’s fire chief to retire after 35 years

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. – A South Carolina city’s fire chief takes her final call at the end of the month.

Isle of Palms Fire Chief Ann Graham is scheduled to retire Dec. 31 after 35 years with the department, WCBD-TV reported.

Sullivan’s Island Fire Chief Anthony Stith gave Graham her start as a volunteer firefighter.

“She’s done a great job, I couldn’t have asked for better people to work with,” Stith said.

From walking to the fire station bus stop to seeing her neighbour die in a fire, Graham said she knew her destiny was to help others.

“I swore … that I was going to put myself in a position where nobody could ever tell me that I couldn’t help again,” Graham said.

Graham said one of her proudest moments with the department was noticing a problem in the county’s radio system, and pushing for a $20 million upgrade, which likely saved the lives of countless firefighters.

“Had I kept my mouth shut, I just don’t know,” Graham said. “I really truly believe someone was going to die.”

There is an old saying that a good leader always knows when the time to go is right. For Graham, she said the timing couldn’t feel better.

“I stepped up even though I wasn’t ready but I believe I made the best of it and I just feel that it’s time to step out,” she said.

Graham’s plan in retirement is to spend more time with family, planning camping trips to the mountains and enjoying life.

Still, she said, Isle of Palms Fire Department will always hold a special place in her heart.

“I want to thank them for their support, tell them to stay safe,” Graham said. “I’m right around the corner, a phone call away.”