Firefighter Honored for Activism, Work With Youth
A 20-year veteran of the Los Angeles City Fire Department who teachers youngsters about fire safety and prevention during his time off was honored Tuesday as the 1994 firefighter of the year by the Los Angeles City Firefighters Assn.
Ralph Rodriguez, an officer at Station No. 2 in Boyle Heights, was honored for his commitment to firefighting, community activism and selfless acts, an organization spokesman said.
“In 1993, during the flood in Tijuana, he organized a food and clothing drive,” said Alan Masumoto, the association spokesman. “He managed to get a hold of a truck and drove everything there.”
Masumoto said Rodriguez also has lectured 3,000 schoolchildren on fire safety.
“He is very active in the community,” Masumoto said.
Rodriguez was among six firefighters nominated for the award.
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