Jason Jasgur - Firefighter/Paramedic

When Jason Jasgur joined the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 2014, he never could have imagined that he would be rendering aid to a SWAT officer who had been shot in the face during an active shooter incident.

He also had no idea that he would be dangling from a helicopter, fighting the raging current of the LA River to save a life.

From being a live human scent canine handler to mutual aid deployments like Hurricane Milton in North Carolina, Firefighter/Paramedic (FF/PM) Jasgur has run the gamut of what is possible when pursuing a career with the LAFD.

“You can do as much or as little at this Department as you want to,” FF/PM Jasgur emphasized, with ten years on the LAFD that reflect his desire to pursue as many growth opportunities as possible.

Jasgur’s father was a canine handler and volunteer with the Los Angeles County Search and Rescue team, and his uncle also worked in the fire service. Both catalyzed Jasgur’s desire to pursue a career saving lives and protecting the community.

In college, Jasgur devoted a significant amount of his time to Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) classes. He tested at departments all over the country, landing his first opportunity in 2008 with the Charleston Fire Department in South Carolina. But his sights were set on a career with the LAFD, where he could explore the vast specialties that were of interest to him.

This opportunity finally came for Jasgur in 2014. With six years of firefighting experience under his belt, he moved his growing family back to California and joined the LAFD.

After completing his first year as an LAFD firefighter, he promptly applied to join the LAFD’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) task force.

The program desperately needed canine handlers, and with support from his wife, Ruffy joined their family and began training as a live human scent canine with FF/PM Jasgur.

“Being a canine handler is something I’ve always wanted to do,”

he said, reflecting on his father’s experience. FF/PM Jasgur expressed gratitude for his wife, his high school sweetheart who he says has “been on board” with his life decisions since they were 16 years old.

Most recently, FF/PM Jasgur and Ruffy were deployed to North Carolina to support mutual aid efforts during Hurricane Milton, assisting with live rescues and community recovery.

Pursuing his next specialty, FF/PM Jasgur applied to the TEMS Unit in 2018, subsequently joining the LAFD’s unique group of highly trained and experienced paramedics. These members are embedded with law enforcement officers to provide crucial medical support on incidents ranging from high-risk warrants to active shooter situations.

While on an active shooter incident, FF/PM Jasgur witnessed a SWAT officer being shot in the face during the exchange of gunfire. As bullets continued to fly overhead, he administered critical care, ultimately saving the officer’s life. “That’s exactly what we’re there to do,” he emphasized, citing that incident as one of the most significant of his career.

The second came shortly after FF/PM Jasgur moved to a backup role with TEMS and transitioned into a flight medic position at LAFD Fire Station 114/Air Operations.

Upon arrival of the helicopter, an initial call for a body recovery from the LA River quickly turned into a live rescue. With sheer walls on either side of the raging river, the only way out for the drowning woman was up. FF/PM Jasgur was lowered down into the water and provided preliminary medical services before being hoisted back up with the patient, where she was then transported to the University of Southern California (USC) Medical Center for further care.

“With the amount of training we do, it felt like second nature,”

FF/PM Jasgur said, reflecting on the intense and exciting first-time air rescue.

From USAR to swift water to TEMS, FF/PM Jasgur’s ambition to explore as many specialties as possible within the LAFD positioned him to be the perfect candidate for a position at Fire Station 114, where he currently resides with Ruffy.

FF/PM Jasgur remains available in case backup is needed for an incident that requires TEMS. He and Ruffy could be summoned to support mutual aid efforts as part of the LAFD’s FEMA team at any moment. But after a total of 17 years in the fire service, and 10 with the LAFD, FF/PM Jasgur feels that being a flight medic at Fire Station 114 is the pinnacle of what he has been working toward.

To firefighter hopefuls, his advice is not to shy away from new opportunities. Whether that looks like learning a trade or developing a unique skill, FF/PM Jasgur empowers those pursuing a career in firefighting to aim high.

“The more life experiences you have, the more skills you can develop – that makes you even more valuable in the fire service,” he emphasized.