An interview with NBC’s “LA Fire & Rescue” firefighter Anthony Alvarez
BY SEAN GALUSZKA | PHOTO BY DUSTI CUNNINGHAM
NBC’s ‘LA Fire & Rescue’ firefighter Anthony Alvarez (featured here with his husband, CHP officer Martin Lopez) takes a moment from his hectic schedule to talk about being a dad, first responder and the importance of visible diversity in his department.
How did you two meet?
We met on Tinder. I was looking for somebody with a similar schedule so law-enforcement, healthcare, and business owners seemed the best options because of my crazy work schedule. And it just so happened Martin was looking for the same as a CHP officer.
What made you decide on a career as a first responder?
I think a lot of us firefighters liked playing with fire as kids, so what better career? I did start off as a little arsonist, and around eight years old and my parents took me to the fire station. I got sat down and talked to by the fire department about how dangerous it was to play with fire, and that had a big impact on me becoming a firefighter. So I started young as an Explorer in my hometown then joined the military as a firefighter.
Did you come out during your career? What was that like?
I came out about five years ago. I was working for another department and got to a point in my life where I was willing to risk people having different opinions about me instead of something happening to me on duty, and my family finding out that I have this whole other life. I first came out to a friend in the department and she encouraged me to come out to the rest of my crew. First, I came out jokingly and then got, “are you serious?” looks. We all started laughing and I was welcomed with, “That’s awesome, we finally have someone in the department!” It was all positive from my crew. I remember being very scared about being treated differently, but I didn’t encounter that. Then I started coming out to family members and it wasn’t all positive, but the people who matter didn’t care and just wanted me to be happy.
“I was willing to risk people having different opinions about me instead of something happening to me on duty, and my family finding out I had this whole other life.”
What is the importance of visible diversity in your field?
It is super important. LA County Fire does a great job with that. You see diversity throughout all our stations and it’s important for the public to see that as well. Speaking for myself, the most apparent visible diversity is our women. Having a woman speak to a patient in a high stress situation is sometimes more calming and can help bring about a positive outcome. We want that for every call.
How do you feel about the LA County Fire Foundation creating the nation’s first LACoFD Pride Patch.
I love the inclusion and what the patch represents. For the public, when they see the patch, they know LA County is showing representation for everybody. Speaking for Los Angeles County Fire Department, I know our leadership is dedicated to equality representation and diversity. Like anywhere in society you’re going to have people with different views for different reasons. But I feel good about the fact that our chief of the department, Anthony Marrone, is fully supportive of diversity and inclusion. That includes the LBGTQ community along with women and minority groups.
How do you find time and what do you do for self-care?
We definitely have to balance work and family life. We make it a point to leave work at work and be aware and involved during family time. We rarely bring up our calls or any work stresses. Typically when I’m off, Martin tries to match my schedule so we’ll have the day together for the gym, spending time in our hometown of Temecula, visiting wineries, going on hikes, and making sure we connect with friends. We definitely keep busy with the kids’ sports activities as well as running two Pokitomik restaurants in Temecula and Vista. We put our kids first before anything else. Sports and family time are priority. It’s a lot of work but the rewards are incomparable. We are on the go constantly, but it’s everything I’ve ever wanted in life.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
If you’re interested in supporting our first responders, the Los Angeles County Fire Department Foundation (LACoFD Foundation) encompasses Fire Fighting, Air Ops, Wildfire Camps, Lifeguards, and Jr. Lifeguards. Funded in great part by your donations, the LACoFD Foundation acts as the main county support system for our first responders, heading up community programs, purchasing equipment, providing mental health programs, and much more. There’s also a LACoFD Foundation online store where all merchandise sales directly support these vital life saving programs.
And if you’ve ever thought about becoming a first responder yourself, you know you’re more than welcome! For donations or careers please visit: www.supportlacountyfire.org.
