Travis Valdez - Firefighter / Engineer

A young Travis Valdez was riding with his dad heading to baseball practice. Suddenly and shockingly, they witnessed a young girl get hit by a car.

Valdez’s father, a Riverside County Firefighter, leaped into action. Off-duty, in a T-shirt and shorts, his dad positioned their truck to block oncoming traffic, what firefighters call “spotting,” and immediately jumped in to assist.

As the son of a firefighter, Valdez spent a lot of time at his father’s station and occasionally joined him for a ride-along. But watching his dad stop everything to ensure the young girl’s safety without hesitation is one of his most vivid childhood memories.

“My dad was my motivation to become a firefighter,” Valdez, now an Engineer at Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Fire Station 34, expressed. As early as middle school, he knew his calling was to become a firefighter.

Valdez wasted no time becoming an EMT after high school. He took fire courses at Riverside Community College, and after volunteering with Riverside County Fire, moved on to become an on-call firefighter for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

During a state-wide hiring wave for seasonal firefighters, Valdez got a job working in San Diego for Cal Fire, where his wildland firefighting expertise was put to the test.

He recalled waiting with his strike team for fires to cross the U.S. border from Mexico, putting them out, and moving on that same day to the next fire, which could be more than 1,000 miles away on the Oregon border.

Even while traveling all over the state with Cal Fire, Valdez continued to apply to departments across California, hoping to find somewhere more permanent to grow in his career.

Finally, after a 14-day stint on the Harris Fire in San Diego County, Valdez got the call he had been waiting for – a job offer from the LAFD.

In December 2007, Valdez became an LAFD firefighter.

Despite joining with extensive firefighting experience, he faced new challenges that come with a city environment versus the more rural regions he was used to.

Valdez cites several colleagues and leaders who helped facilitate his growth in the department and significantly impacted his firefighting career. His first off-probation assignment was LAFD Fire Station 6 where he met now-retired LAFD Captain Matthew Ott, a positive role model and source of advice for Valdez. He also met Firefighters Shane Hirsch and Lou Aldana at Fire Station 6, both of whom supported him during his transition.

At LAFD Fire Station 1, Captain Eddie Marez saw potential in Valdez and encouraged him to move up in the Department. “He saw growth in me, and I’m glad he told me that,” he reflected. Kris Jorgensen was an Apparatus Operator at the time who also supported Valdez in his pursuit and is the reason Valdez assumed the title of Engineer in 2020.

“I enjoy that pressure of assessing the route, understanding it, and getting everyone there safely,” he said of driving the fire engine. He underscored that being a driver requires high-level attention to detail and precision, from pulling out of the station to positioning the engine safely on the scene – all in a matter of seconds.

“I would not be where I am today without them,” Engineer Valdez said of the individuals who impacted his career, including his current Captain at LAFD Fire Station 34, Cory D’Arrigo. The two worked together to improve the station, creating a warmer, more inviting space.

“I always want to make sure someone new feels welcomed at the fire station,” Engineer Valdez shared, remembering those who went the extra mile to make him feel welcomed as he moved from station to station as an early firefighter.  

This desire to pass on the inspiration he’s received from others is reflected in the time he spends teaching at the Crafton Hills College Fire Academy. Since 2010, Engineer Valdez has spent his days off teaching fire courses to hopeful firefighters.

“I believe in fire academy, because these young folks are there on their own dime, putting in their personal time to learn more about the job,” Engineer Valdez emphasized. Just as he would tell recruits, he tells his students that they can never ask too many questions. “When you’re not afraid to make a mistake, that’s when you learn,” he added.

Engineer Valdez prefers to fly under the radar, but if he makes half of the positive impact that his colleagues and leaders made on him, he will be proud of his career as an LAFD Firefighter and Engineer.

“If people don’t know when I retire, I’m fine with that,” he said. “As long as I’ve made the place I worked better in some way.”