From Student to Hero: How One Alumna Serves as a Franklin Firefighter

Kiah Fiers (’10) never imagined that she would one day be battling flames that threatened her alma mater. But the traits she mastered on the volleyball court as a student-athlete were now a part of her daily experience as a firefighter for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The perseverance, teamwork, and determination that she developed at Pepperdine were integral to her career. 

“A particularly powerful moment for me was when my crew and I were working to save a house with a clear view of Pepperdine’s campus,” Fiers remembers. “It was a home close to the apartments where I had lived during my sophomore year. As we were overhauling the roof, ensuring that no lingering embers could reignite, the sun began to rise over the coastline. Standing there, after successfully saving that home, and looking out at my alma mater in the morning light was an unforgettable experience.”

Learn more about Fiers and her journey to become a firefighter on the University Newsroom.