Firefighting Family Gets Last Hurrah

A veteran Los Angeles County firefighter who is retiring next month was given the opportunity this week to work for the first time at the same station as his two fire captain sons.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Engineer David Schwaiger, 59, who usually works at Station 63 in La Crescenta. “It’s going to be one last hurrah.”

His eldest son, Capt. Steve Schwaiger, 37, is ordinarily assigned to Station 164, in Huntington Park. His other son, Capt. Donald Schwaiger, 35, works at Station 8, 7643 Santa Monica Blvd., in West Hollywood, where the three began their 24-hour shift together at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

“We wanted to have one day together before our dad retires,” Donald Schwaiger said. “He’s been on the job for 34 years and we never worked together.

“My father has been an engineer--a driver--for 30 years. He liked it and stayed an engineer, and my brother and I became captains. We may outrank him by rank, but not by seniority.”

The three went out on an assignment early Tuesday afternoon, on separate vehicles, to Universal City, where a pickup truck loaded with pyrotechnics rolled over but did not ignite.

“You know, I’m not worried about a thing, working with my sons,” said the veteran engineer, who retires March 18. “They’re both good leaders and they do a good job.”

Asked what was in store for him, he quipped: “Well, I gotta do dishes. We’re kidding and reminiscing, and it’s been great.”