Jul 28, 2019
One of the first things firefighter Peter Goff did after retirement was grow out his beard. “When he worked, he always had very trimmed facial hair. So, when he retired, he was like, I’m going to grow it out,” his daughter Nicole Buss recalled. “As a firefighter you...
May 8, 2019
Very few people on this job are recognized as legends within their lifetime. John White was one. John White was born on January 26, 1934. In 1951, At the age of 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served on the destroyer U.S.S. Brown during the Korean War. He...
Apr 4, 2019
Any professional knows that a good toolkit is essential to get a job done right. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has a number of them, from the Jaws of Life to specialized vehicles, that are critical to shaving down minutes on response time and saving lives in...
Feb 13, 2019
It is important to understand the past in order to move toward a bright future. Jimmy Smith, the lead docent at the African American Firefighter Museum (AAFFM) in Los Angeles, understands that well. He regularly guides visitors through powerful exhibits featuring LAFD...
Jun 4, 2018
A day of fun to escape from the blistering Arizona heat would have turned tragic for one family if a Los Angeles firefighter hadn’t been in just the right place. It was 105 degrees outside when LAFD Captain John Marasco slid into an inner tube and slowly made his way...
May 7, 2018
“Forget what hurt you in the past, but never forget what it taught you.” Firefighter Kenneth Fraser has been able to apply this sincere quote from an unknown artist to his own life, both on and off duty. On January 24, 2017, while off duty, heading home from the...
