Hand-to-Hand Fire Combat: LAFD Crew 4

For the wildland hand crews that serve Los Angeles through the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), it is a rare occasion to have not one, but six live fires in the midst of training.  

That was the case for the newly formed Wildland Hand Crew 4, the LAFD’s first paid, full-time hand crew. In their five weeks of rigorous training, they were boots on the ground at six fires that threatened Los Angeles – one of which occurred the day before their graduation ceremony. Crew 4 was directly responsible for keeping the fire in its footprint, ensuring the blaze did not encroach on nearby communities.

For the 24 members of Crew 4, this is exactly what they signed up to do.  

Wildland hand crews are the LAFD version of a “hot shot,” or highly trained and specialized crews that are deployed to the most demanding parts of wildfires. These critical crews construct fire lines to prevent the spread of fire and manage fire behavior, all by hand.

The more established Wildland Hand Crew 3 is the volunteer version of Crew 4. Like Crew 4, it is fully managed by LAFD members with extensive wildland training and hand crew experience. This crew is hard at work throughout the year clearing firebreaks, trails, fire roads, and maintaining vegetation in fire-prone areas throughout the city. Participation also provides valuable hands-on experience for individuals interested in pursuing a firefighting career.

When duty called as it did on January 7, 2025, Crew 3 was out on the frontlines, fully embedded in the multi-agency efforts to fight the wildfires that were devastating Los Angeles. With the addition of Crew 4, the LAFD has doubled its ability to respond to disasters and assist firefighters on the frontlines with fire suppression and community protection.  

“You are part of a very impressive cadre with a lot of experience,” Battalion Chief Adam Knabe said to the Crew 4 training academy graduates. He emphasized that Crew 4 represents a powerful new force in wildfire fighting and all-hazard emergencies that increasingly impact Los Angeles.  

The LAFD Foundation funded and helped secure the tools and equipment needed for the new crew, made possible by donor support. Generous in-kind donations through the Foundation helped ensure that every Crew 4 member received safety glasses, gloves, chainsaws, crucial personal protective equipment (PPE), brush cutters, and more.

While the volunteer-based Crew 3 continues to play a crucial role in wildland support, the paid and full-time nature of Crew 4 allows them to train and respond full-time, increasing operational readiness and extending the LAFD’s reach during critical fire seasons and large-scale disasters.

Year-round, both of these crews play a critical role daily in building community resilience across Los Angeles, from clearing brush and other potential fuels to decreasing the potential for a significant fire.

The Crew 4 cadre is comprised of varying experience levels. Some worked for years with other wildland hand crews in different jurisdictions, while some found Crew 4 as the pathway to a long-term career with the LAFD. All went through intense training alongside seasoned LAFD experts to develop the skills needed to be an effective and equipped firefighting force.  

“Being able to put our experience into actual work that matters in the city is amazing,"

said Ricardo Hernandez, one of the Crew 4 graduates. He had experience working on a hand crew serving the Santa Monica Mountains, but always had his sights set on the LAFD. At graduation, he emphasized that he had fulfilled a lifelong dream.

Cynthia Moreno had been a member of Crew 3 since 2023. When the LAFD announced the applications for Crew 4, she leapt at the opportunity. “I’m looking forward to all the challenges, some of which we’ve already faced,” she said at graduation, reflecting on the six fires that brought the crew closer together.  

“I’ve known since middle school that I wanted to be part of the fire service,” Amedeo Cordola shared. But college was when he truly made the shift to take his future career more seriously. Of his future as a Crew 4 member, he said, “It is a little nerve-wracking, but more exciting than anything. I’m excited to jump in and do whatever we can to help serve the city.”

LAFD leadership spoke at the graduation and underscored the readiness of Crew 4, highlighting their successful response to the six fires that occurred while they were still in training.  

“You are part of a project that has been a long time coming,” Valley Bureau Commander and Deputy Chief Jamie Moore said to the Crew 4 graduates. “Carry the lessons that you’ve learned forward, and never forget the incredible team that you are a part of.”