LAFD Captain I, Domingo Albarran is stationed out of 56’s, located in the Echo Park, Silver Lake area. He’s been with the LAFD more than 30 years and is one of the “OG’s” of the LAFD Swift Water Team. When it comes to being a valued member of the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association, he says, “You just can’t beat it!” Here’s why:
“OG” of the LAFD Swift Water Team
After spending decades on the LAFD, Domingo knows how important it is to have access to the benefits and services provided by the Relief Association to its firefighter families. He personally witnessed fellow firefighters receive excellent care in times of need. And, he knows the risks and dangers of a career in the fire service firsthand.
“I’m one of the original guys that started the [Swift Water] program back in 1992,” says Domingo. “We started with the fact that we had a fatality the year before with Adam Bischoff in the L.A. River, and I was fortunate to work with a gentleman, a captain named Gary Del, who was instrumental in starting the program. We went and took classes on our own throughout the country from those who are experienced in swift water, and we started the program.”
In his youth Domingo was a water skier and a snow skier. That also inspired him to join the Swift Water Team. “But mostly it had to do with, I had a near drowning when I was really two, three years old, afraid of water. And then I overcame that as a child, at least that’s what my mom said. And then I really liked the water, a little bit of body surfing, stuff like that at the ocean, but mostly I just saw a need and found out a lot of the history of the Los Angeles River and how it was developed.”
L.A. River: Rich in History
“In 1933 they had a mass flooding of the L.A. Basin and the L.A. area and it killed a bunch of people. The Army Corps of Engineers came in and I’m kind of like a history nut and I love that stuff. And then this just catapulted to the next level. I used to work at Fire Station 94 as a young rookie, and we used to hang guys off the aerial ladder into the water, which was the worst thing we could have ever done.”
Dangers on the Job
All firefighters face risks on the job. As for being a member on the Swift Water Team, “The biggest risk is when we have unknowns below us, such as low-head dam or anywhere where water is not doing what it’s supposed to be doing. Or there could be debris at the bottom of the river that we don’t know about. We do a pretty good job when we’re deployed to go out and do what we call a pre-water plan so we know where the water’s going to be and also be able to read the river and read what the water’s doing.”
Swift Water Helicopter Rescues
“But the most dangerous operation, believe it or not, is helicopter operations,” says Domingo. “We are one of the best in the country that does a lot of helicopter operations, whether it’s cliff rescues, whether it’s picking people out of the hills, hikers and stuff like that. But in the water, you’re entering an extra dynamic of water that’s moving.”
As for the new team members coming on, this is Domingo’s Advice, “Don’t drop your guard!”
Swift Water Training on the American River
We caught up with Domingo while he was training with the Swift Water Team on the American River. He says, “That’s why coming out to the American River is actually a very necessary tool. We learned way back that when we learned on Natural Rivers, the water is unforgiving, it’s relentless. When you go surfing, waves come in increments. This water doesn’t, it’s constant, it’s steady, and if you get trapped, you get hurt, you’re going to get hurt. So that’s why teaching on this type of river makes the L.A. River a lot more palatable because if you make it through this type of river class two, class three rapids, that’s about the maximum you’re going to get in the L.A. River. The only thing the L.A. River has is speed. But as far as being able to navigate and get around and use the tools that they’re provided with, they’ll be good.”