🚒 Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline 🔥
Meet Captain Marsh, LAFD
As fierce Santa Ana winds swept through Los Angeles, heightening fire danger, he called home before deploying—expecting to be gone for just a few days. Instead, his strike team was among the first responders to the Palisades Fire, battling exhaustion to protect homes and lives.
They had no rest for three days—grabbing sleep in their rigs or on the ground between grueling 24-hour shifts. His dedication, grit, and sacrifice deserve to be seen and remembered.
🔥 Proceeds from the book will directly support firefighters. To ensure the greatest impact, the specific fund will be chosen with input from the firefighters themselves.
Thank you to @lmarsh_80 Lori Marsh for nominating her husband and sharing his story. 💙
🚒 Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline 🔥
Meet Ramon (Ray) Alvarez – Firefighter Paramedic, GFD
Ray’s journey in service began in 2013 in Fillmore, CA, where he volunteered for his hometown after becoming an EMT and later a paramedic dedicated to patient care. In 2019, he and his family moved to Colorado, where he continues his mission as a Firefighter Paramedic with the Greeley Fire Department, always ready to answer the call.
Firefighters don’t just protect communities—they become part of them. Though Ray now serves in Colorado, his connection to California remains strong. His family helped provide meals to 104 fire families, proving that the firefighting community extends beyond state lines. His unwavering commitment to California and Colorado reflects the heart and resilience of those who put others first.
A heartfelt thank you to Melissa Alvarez (@firefamilysupport) for nominating her husband and her incredible work supporting fire families. 💙
🚒 Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline 🔥
👨🚒 Meet Chien Yu – Firefighter Pasadena Fire Department
For 18 years, Chien Yu has served with the Pasadena Fire Department, protecting the community where he and his family built their lives in Altadena. But one night changed everything.
🌲 "I saw the glow through the trees. Kim and I got our kids out when we got orders to evacuate. After they were safe, I went to work. We fought the flames for sixteen hours, but the winds were unlike anything we had ever seen. When we finally got a break, I checked on my house… it was gone."
💍 In the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, as Chien sifted through the ashes, he found something he never expected to see again—his wedding ring. He always took it off for work, never imagining it would survive the fire. But there it was, a symbol of love and resilience among the ruins.
🚒 Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline 🔥
👨🚒 Engineer Jeremy Dann – LAFD Station 35
🚒 The day the Palisades Fire ignited, Jeremy was back on duty just as fierce Santa Ana winds took hold. He remained on the frontlines—protecting homes, evacuating residents, and serving the city of LA through relentless conditions.
🔥 On day eight of his deployment, exhausted from long shifts, little sleep, and heavy smoke exposure, Jeremy received an unexpected visit—his wife and three kids surprised him at base camp. Despite everything, he still had a smile on his face, ready to serve. His station isn't just a workplace—it's a second family.
🙏 Thanks to @rocampaxmama, Lauren Dann, for sharing Jeremy's story.
🚒 Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline 🔥
👨🚒 Captain Robert (Rob) Landers – Downey Fire Department
🚒 Tuesday afternoon, Captain Landers sent his wife a simple text:
"There's a fire. They may be assembling strike teams."
🔥 By 6 PM, he was en route to the Palisades Fire, facing the most intense blaze of his career. Nearly every home they tried to save was already engulfed. The hydrants were dry. Winds were relentless. Embers rained down, igniting everything.
⚡ The fire was so fierce that an ember ignited their fire engine, burning through its electrical lines. By 3 AM, they managed to drive the damaged truck back to base—just one challenge in a brutal 12-hour battle.
🙏 Thank you to @christyrl, Captain Landers’ wife, for sharing his story.
🚒 Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline 🔥
👨🚒 Firefighter Paramedic Jose Cruz – Los Angeles County Fire Department
After 19 years in emergency response—16 in private ambulance service and 3 as a firefighter/paramedic—Jose Cruz (@cruzzzy) thought he had seen it all. But nothing could prepare him for the relentless battle against the Palisades Fire.
🚒 Jan 9: After completing a 48-hour shift, Jose prepared to deploy as part of a strike team. By 11 AM, he was en route to Pacific Coast Highway, where homes along the beach—some with no surrounding brush—had already burned to the ground. It was a surreal sight, like something out of a movie.
🔥 By 6 PM, Jose and his crew joined two other engines battling multiple homes engulfed in flames. The wind intensified, turning an already impossible task into a brutal war against fire. Wearing only their brush gear, the heat suffocated, making breathing difficult. But they pushed forward, refusing to let the fire win.
🙏 A huge thank you to @breannecruz_photography for capturing the first image of her husband used for the portrait.
Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline 🔥
👨🚒 Firefighter Engineer J. Blaise Daigle – CAL FIRE
🚒 Blaise Daigle began his journey in 2018 with the California Conservation Corps in Butte County. His dedication led him to CAL FIRE in 2019, where he earned a permanent role with the Fuels Crew 🔥. He later became a Firefighter 1 in Mendocino County, before stepping into his current role as Engineer at Station 43 in AEU (2023).
🔥 While attending a CPT class, Blaise’s captain tapped him on the shoulder:
"We’re forming a strike team. We gotta go now."
Moments later, he was en route to one of the most devastating wildfires in Southern California. Entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble. Once the flames were out, Blaise and his crew went house to house, ensuring no fire reignited—placing any surviving belongings at doorsteps as a small yet powerful sign of hope.
🙏 A huge thank you to @makesbymissie, Missie Daigle, for nominating Blaise and sharing his incredible story.
Guardian Portraits:
Faces from the Fireline
Born from a deep appreciation for the bravery of Los Angeles firefighters, Guardian Portraits: Faces from the Fireline is a digital portrait series dedicated to those who put their lives on the line to battle wildfires. This project is a visual tribute, ensuring these often-unsung heroes are recognized and seen.
Each portrait captures a moment of quiet strength, honoring the endurance, sacrifice, and humanity of the individuals behind the uniforms. The series will culminate in a published book, with proceeds supporting a firefighter fund to give back to those who protect our communities.
By blending fine art and storytelling, Guardian Portraits focuses on illuminating the people behind the fire lines, preserving their courage and legacy beyond the smoke and ashes.
Interested in nomination a fire fighter for the project? It’s ongoing! Click here to nominate!