Council honors Aztec Fire Crew; crew leaders ask for seed funding to sustain youth program

The Los Angeles City Council presented certificates of appreciation to members of the Aztec Fire Crew in recognition of the program’s wildfire suppression work and neighborhood hazard-reduction activities, and program leaders asked councilmembers to consider seed funding to sustain operations.

Councilmember Nick Pacheco introduced the Aztec Fire Crew and said the program provides training, employment and environmental stewardship opportunities for at-risk youth and adults across Los Angeles. Enrique Hurtado, executive director and trainer, told the council the crew provides both classroom and field training in fire suppression, trail maintenance, brush clearance and hazard reduction, and that members have assisted on assignments across several western states.

Don Fazer (Forest Service chief of fire and aviation management for Angeles National Forest) addressed the council in support of the program and described the crew as an important partnership between federal and local agencies. Crew members who have advanced into permanent Forest Service employment also spoke: Andres Gonzales described his route from the crew into a career as a wildland firefighter, and Iris Monge discussed the physical and emotional preparation required for assignments.

Hurtado asked the council for “seed monies” to keep the program operating; he said staff have been running the program out of pocket and cited past support from a fiscal sponsor and the Forest Service. Councilmembers who spoke afterward, including Councilmember Reyes, framed the program as a neighborhood priority and urged the council to consider funding that supports at-risk youth and firefighting training.

Ending: Program leaders told the council they would welcome city funding help and highlighted the Aztec Fire Crew’s partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service and local nonprofit fiscal agents. No formal council appropriation or vote on funding was taken at the meeting.