Today we honor the firefighters who put their lives at risk for our safety and well-being every single day.

Not everyone knows this, but one of my dreams that I had since my 20’s was to become a firefighter.

I took Fire Science classes at Santa Ana College years ago (I was the only girl in my classes) and at the end of the program, I ran up and down the tower in my gear with a dead fire hose (no water running through it) and passed the physical fitness tests.

The next step was to put myself through the Fire Academy.  However, I put that dream aside because, at the time, I was a single mom of a young girl and didn’t have the means to 1) pay for the Fire Academy, 2) earn a full-time income, and 3) pay for childcare all at the same time.

Years and years went by, and I ignored that dream because I had already passed the age they allow to become a firefighter in California.

Later on, when I was 44 years old, I accidentally discovered through a random conversation that the age requirement for firefighting had been lifted.  I remember driving home in disbelief and eagerly looking forward to seeing what was now required to become a firefighter.

To make a long story short, I decided to go through all the steps and try to fulfill that dream from so many years ago.

In 2019, I successfully became a volunteer wildland firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department’s Crew 3 hand crew!

The whole process, along with the experience working with my crew, was an amazing one that I will never forget!  I truly learned a lot about myself, what I am able to accomplish, and how mentally tough I can really be! 👩‍🚒 🚒

So today, let’s all be grateful for those firefighters working hard for our safety and well-being.