PHOTOS: Charlotte Firefighter William Holland never set out to become a firefighter. In fact, his career path nearly led him in the opposite direction.ย โI was trying to go the police route,โ Holland said with a laugh. โThat fell through, and a friend of mine who was a firefighter invited me to do a ride-along. After that first call, I was hooked.โย That call was a relatively minor incidentโa fire alarm triggered by dust from sandblasting. But the experience left a lasting impression on him. Although he wasnโt even on the payroll yet, Holland stepped in to translate Spanish for two women inside the home.ย โThe amount of gratitude they showed me,โ he said, โIโve never felt that before. I needed that. It changed everything for me.โ That moment launched what would become a 17-year career with Charlotte Fire.
