David Hinojosa, Firefighter

Firefighter David Hinojosa, a first-generation U.S.-born citizen and firefighter, grew up in a rough area of Orange County and hails from a family of immigrants.

His mother migrated from Guatemala, put herself through 10 years of college, and worked as an emergency room (ER) nurse at the old Los Angeles County hospital. She knew she wanted her son to be like the kind and respectful firefighters that she connected with in the ER.

Some of Hinojosa’s earliest photos feature his childhood self in Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighter turnout gear, and his first toy was a small red fire truck.

“I praise my mom for everything she went through with me and my older sister. She was tough on us, but she took care of us,”

Hinojosa shared. Growing up in a community struggling against gang activity, he watched his friends go to jail, not graduate, and fall victim to violence. He was determined to change the narrative for himself.

In high school, Hinojosa occupied his time with football, track, and cross-country, but was most passionate about handball. He participated in local tournaments and would use the prize money for groceries and clothes to support his parents.

After graduating, he took fire technology college courses, working as an EMT and in the finance department of the ER where his mother worked to save up for the LAFD Training Academy.

Hinojosa graduated in the first COVID Academy class and was assigned to Fire Station 2 in Boyle Heights. “I was fortunate to be at 2’s. It was a very busy station and a lot of the guys had at least 15 to 20 years on,” he shared, which afforded him valuable perspective and experience early on.

Inspired by the strong work ethic of his father, who migrated from Mexico and worked construction and yard work to support his family, Hinojosa put in countless hours of overtime at Fire Station 14 in South Central during his probation. While on his second assignment at Fire Station 26 in West Adams, the Captain at Fire Station 14 was impressed with his dedication and invited him to take his next assignment there. Hinojosa completed probation and has been a firefighter at Fire Station 14 for over two years.

He was only two months on the job when his station was dispatched to the Boyd Street fire in Downtown Los Angeles, and his most recent significant fire shut down a portion of the 10 freeway, triggering a state of emergency. “You never know if this fire could be the one that you don’t walk away from,” he reflected, recalling the seconds just before he witnessed the explosion at the Boyd Street fire that triggered a fireball, injuring several LAFD firefighters.

Hinojosa is passionate about fighting fires, but his day-to-day mostly involves responding to calls involving people, and this aspect of giving back to the community is what Hinojosa values most. “There is a sense of fulfillment and a sense of responsibility, knowing that you sacrifice a part of your life every day to save someone else’s life. That is something I can live with and die for.”

He enjoys talking with the people he serves, offering encouragement and resources whenever possible. He is also bilingual, which has helped bridge communication gaps between firefighters and Spanish speakers.

Hinojosa has made a significant impact during his brief time on the job. He brings a “community-first” lens with him to all aspects of his work because he wants a better world for himself, and children like him. The teachers who supported him through school invite him back often to speak to their students, allowing him to share his story and inspire the next generation of youth to break the cycle of violence in their communities.

Unbeknownst to Hinojosa when he was playing in high school, handball is a long-standing LAFD tradition. Whether fighting fires, responding to a call for help, or inviting community youth to play at the station, Hinojosa employs handball tactics daily. The quick game requires fast reflexes, but also a keen sense of strategy.

“Training is so crucial because you don’t have time to go through every individual step in your head,”

Hinojosa shared. “With training and practice, you understand what to do and how to respond quickly.”

Hinojosa’s story exemplifies what is possible when preparation meets opportunity. He humbly acknowledges that he has a lot more to learn and plenty more experience to gain, but one thing is for sure – Hinojosa would not trade his career as an LAFD firefighter for any other job.

He challenges the students that he speaks to with this question: “Why waste life not doing something for someone else?”