A Group Commander who is based at Highland LSO HQ in Inverness, has been awarded a King’s Fire Service Medal in the New Year Honours.
Group Commander Karla Stevenson is responsible for service delivery in the Highland Central area.
She is also an advocate for inclusion and diversity within the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
During her career Karla has been instrumental in setting up initiatives and supporting others and was responsible for setting up a network for the LGBT community within SFRS.
She is also involved in creating cultural standards for firefighters across Scotland as the service has a zero-tolerance approach to behaviours such as bullying and harassment.
Karla is part of the National Executive Council for Women in the Fire Service, where she represents Scotland, and she was instrumental in organising Scotland’s first Women in the Fire Service event which was held at the SFRS National Headquarters in Cambuslang in 2024.
She recently took on the role of a family liaison officer to support a firefighter from Inverness who was diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Karla supported him and his family, and she received a Chief Officer Commendation Award in 2024 for her compassionate support.
Six years ago, Karla also had her own personal experience with cancer when she was diagnosed with bladder cancer.
She had an operation to remove her bladder and create a urostomy, and she returned to work six months later.
At that time Karla was 38 and mum to two-year-old daughter, Brèagha.
Karla said:
“I’m very overwhelmed to have been nominated for such a prestigious award and I’m extremely proud and humbled to accept this.
“To have my work recognised in this way is very much appreciated.
“There are so many individuals within the service that work tirelessly and have dedicated themselves to improve culture and inclusion for others, and each and every one deserves recognition.
“I have been inspired and supported by so many people in the fire and rescue service community and I’d like to thank them as well as my wife Michelle for all their support and encouragement.”
Karla’s career started when she joined the Highland and Islands Fire and Rescue Service in 2000 as an on call firefighter.
She then became a full time firefighter based at Oban Fire Station before she transferred to Glasgow.
While in Glasgow, Karla was instrumental in developing a partnership with Scottish Ambulance Service and Glasgow Caledonian University which enabled trainee paramedics to perform placements in fire stations within Glasgow.
This partnership continues to grow.
Karla has also held roles as a Station Commander in Glasgow and Isle of Skye District and has also been responsible for the training and development of staff based at 61 fire stations in the Highland area.
She is also a keen fundraiser and has completed 5ks, 10ks, half marathons and marathons to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity.
