Stories of Family, Heritage, Service Inspire Charlotte Firefighters
Published on September 25, 2025
Charlotte Fire honors Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the service, sacrifice, and family values that inspire these firefighters.
Firefighter Mario Labrador can still hear his father’s calm voice guiding him. His father was a pastor, a man who devoted his life to serving others with humility and compassion. Labrador remembers standing beside him in church halls and community rooms, watching as his father offered comfort to people in moments of doubt and difficulty.
That example became the foundation for Labrador’s own career of service.
“I saw the way he cared for people, how patient and compassionate he was,” Labrador said. “When I joined Charlotte Fire, I carried that with me. It prepared me for what we see and do on the job.”
As Charlotte Fire observes Hispanic Heritage Month, Labrador’s story is one of several that reflect the diverse experiences of Hispanic firefighters across the city. Their journeys are rooted in family, community, and resilience, but they converge in a shared mission: to serve Charlotte with compassion, professionalism, and pride.
A Family’s Example
Growing up in a Christian household, Labrador’s earliest lessons about service did not come from a firehouse but from the pulpit. His father preached about faith but lived out compassion in the way he cared for people facing hardship.
“I would go with him to see people in different situations, and I realized I enjoyed that — being present when people needed help,” Labrador said. “That exposure shaped me long before I knew what the fire service was.”
Firefighter Mario Labrador draws strength from his father’s example of service as a pastor, carrying those lessons into every call.
When his brother and family friends introduced him to firefighting, Labrador saw another path to the same calling. It was not ministry in the traditional sense, but it was still service, urgent and lifesaving.
“It was a different form of service, but it carried the same heart,” he said. “Being a firefighter allows me to be there for people in their worst moments.”
On calls, Labrador often recalls his father’s composure. He strives to bring the same steady presence into chaotic situations, whether it is a fire, a car accident, or a medical emergency.
“I like to think people can sense that,” he said. “When they see us arrive, there’s relief. They know things will get better now.”
Labrador adds that his faith continues to guide him in small, everyday ways on the job.
Whether it is showing patience with a frightened child or giving comfort to a family after a fire, he believes the quiet strength he learned from his father is the most valuable tool he carries.
Carrying Traditions into Leadership
Captain Anthony Perez did not grow up with firefighters in his family, but he grew up surrounded by service. His father, a lifelong bus driver in Cuba, found joy in making passengers’ days a little brighter. His mother worked in a school, where her care for students often felt like an extension of her role at home.
“They showed me what it meant to serve others,” Perez said. “I didn’t see it at the time, but those lessons stuck. When I put on this uniform, I carry their sacrifices and traditions with me.”
Perez says his heritage reminds him that he represents more than himself. “I carry my family’s work ethic and pride into this job,” he said. “It motivates me to serve at the highest standard.”
Captain Anthony Perez leads with humility and teamwork, inspired by his family’s work ethic and dedication to service.
Now a captain, Perez is recognized for creating a culture of trust and inclusion on his crew.
“You cannot do this job alone,” he said. “We rely on each other to stay safe and get the job done. My focus has always been to make sure my crew knows their voices matter. That is what makes us stronger.”
He believes a diverse department is critical for building trust across Charlotte. “When people see themselves represented, it sends a message,” Perez said. “It tells the community we understand their experiences and values. That makes the fire service stronger.”
Perez also hopes that young people see him as proof that a firefighter’s calling can come from unexpected places. He did not grow up around the fire service, yet through discipline, persistence, and a belief in teamwork, he found a career that gave him purpose. He now tells others that the door is open for anyone willing to put in the work and bring their unique perspective to the department.
From Combat to Charlotte
Captain Michael Ferreira’s path to Charlotte Fire began in uniform, but not the kind with a helmet and turnout gear. He spent a decade in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, serving as a firefinder radar operator responsible for tracking enemy mortar and rocket fire.
He deployed to Iraq three times, experiences that shaped his outlook on service and resilience.
“It was demanding, intense work,” Ferreira said. “But it gave me discipline, teamwork, and perspective that I still carry with me.”
When he left the Army in 2010, Ferreira searched for a new way to serve. He considered law enforcement but found himself drawn to the fire service. Charlotte Fire hired him in 2011, and he quickly discovered the brotherhood that felt familiar from the Army.
Captain Michael Ferreira, a U.S. Army veteran, brings discipline and compassion to his service with Charlotte Fire.
“What I found was that same sense of camaraderie,” he said. “We train together, we depend on each other, we share good days and bad. That bond is what keeps you going.”
Ferreira believes representation is part of earning trust. “Charlotte is a melting pot,” he said. “When someone sees a firefighter who speaks their language or understands their culture, it matters. It builds confidence in us when people need it most.”
He also credits his Army years with shaping how he approaches leadership today. In both combat zones and fire stations, he learned that respect is earned by standing alongside your team in the hard moments. He believes those shared experiences create the foundation for trust, whether in a platoon or in a company responding to emergencies across Charlotte.
A Bridge for the Community
Firefighter Gabriel Lopez Azamar was searching for direction after high school when a friend told him about Charlotte Fire. At first, it seemed like a steady career. It quickly became a calling.
Raised by a single mother, the oldest of five children, Lopez Azamar had grown up watching her sacrifice for the family. “Her hard work pushed me to do better,” he said. “She inspired me to provide something not just for my family but for the community.”
On calls, Lopez Azamar has witnessed how much it matters for Spanish-speaking families to see a familiar face. “You can see the relief on their faces when they realize I speak their language,” he said. “It makes the whole situation less stressful. In those moments, that connection is everything.”
Firefighter Gabriel Lopez Azamar serves as a bridge for Charlotte’s Hispanic community, providing comfort through shared language and culture.
Lopez Azamar wants to be remembered not just for his service but for his ability to build trust. “I want my name to carry weight,” he said. “I want people to know I was someone they could count on. And I want to encourage the next generation to see this career as a way to make a difference.”
He adds that his heritage is also a tool for recruitment. When young people see firefighters who share their background, it sparks possibility. Lopez Azamar says he hopes to be that example, reminding others that Charlotte Fire is not only a place to build a career but also a place where culture and community ties strengthen the department as a whole.
One of the First
When Battalion Chief Juan Pablo “JP” Soto joined Charlotte Fire more than two decades ago, Latino representation in the department was scarce. He was only the fourth Latino firefighter hired, following nearly a decade without one.
“At first, I didn’t even understand what the job offered,” Soto said. “In Guatemala, no one talked about things like retirement or benefits. But once I understood the brotherhood and the purpose of the fire service, I fell in love with it.”
Over the years, Soto has become a strong advocate for recruitment and mentorship. He sees representation as critical not only for connecting with the community but also for building the future of the department.
Battalion Chief Juan Pablo Soto, one of the first Latino firefighters hired in Charlotte, champions diversity and mentorship within the fire service.
“When you understand not just the language but the culture, you connect in a deeper way,” Soto said. “Sometimes people are hesitant to call 911. They might be afraid or unsure. When they see someone who understands their background, it changes everything.”
Soto has also worked to educate colleagues through candid conversations about diversity. “Sometimes it is not malice, it is ignorance,” he said. “When people get to know you and hear your story, it breaks barriers. That is how we grow as a department.”
Looking back, Soto takes pride in the fact that many who came after him entered the fire service because someone took the time to recruit, mentor, or simply share the story of what the job could offer. He says that influence, multiplied across generations, is how real change happens inside a department and throughout the city.
Reflecting Charlotte
Charlotte’s Hispanic population has grown steadily in recent decades, making cultural awareness essential for public safety. For Charlotte Fire, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor that reality and highlight the contributions of those who serve.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is about more than celebrating culture,” Perez said. “It is about showing younger generations that they belong here, that they can wear this uniform and serve with pride.”
The stories of Labrador, Perez, Ferreira, Lopez Amazar, and Soto illustrate that principle. Each one demonstrates how family, heritage, and experience shape the fire service in ways that strengthen the whole department.
Looking Ahead
The firefighters agree that their role is not just about today but also about inspiring the future.
“Your community needs you,” Perez said, when asked what advice he would give to young Latinos considering the fire service. “Do not let fear or doubt stop you. It is hard work, but it is rewarding. Your perspective will make a difference.”
Soto echoed that sentiment. “I tell them, come to the station and see what we do,” he said. “You do not have to grow up around firefighters to belong here. I am proof of that.”
For Labrador, the hope is simple. “I just want to serve with compassion, the way my dad did,” he said. “At the end of the day, if people remember me as someone they could count on, that is enough.”
And for Charlotte Fire as a whole, Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder that strength comes from diversity and that every firefighter’s heritage contributes to a shared mission of protecting the community.
“When you put on this uniform,” Perez said, “you are part of something bigger than yourself. You are carrying your family, your community, and your heritage with you. That is the pride we bring to this job.”