Laguna Beach Firefighters Show Life Behind The Scenes

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The moment wasn't anything special for firefighters, but a picture can tell a thousand words. Here, a trio of firefighters restocking their kits after a cardiac arrest call. It's not just the restocking of medical supplies, it's the knowledge that these are the firefighters who come to help locals in their time of need.

For Laguna Beach Firefighter Engineer and social media guru Chris Ornelas, the moment is not to be wasted. It is a chance to educate his followers, as well as to shine a light on his fellow firefighters doing what they do: taking care of residents.

"During these types of calls, a lot of equipment and meds get used," he explains in the post. "During the re-stock process is the time to talk about how the call went and how to make sure we get better. Making sure we are back in service quickly is the responsibility of everyone on the call and in the engine. "

Ornelas, recently recognized by his peers as Laguna Beach's Firefighter of the Year for 2020, loves sharing online about his department. In a recent story by the OC Register, he says he "takes a lot of pictures" because he wants his fellow firefighters' families to "see what they do."

The social streams he manages serve to highlight the calls, the fires, and rescues. Ornelas gives all "behind the scenes" look at the firehouse, and what it means to be in the fire service in the city of Laguna Beach.

His goal is to connect the older generation to the new generation of firefighters, the OC Register reports, using social media as the vehicle to do so, to let the 30-year veteran firefighters know they are not forgotten, and so the youngest firefighters know all about the retired firefighters who came before.

The photos Ornelas shares are seen as vital to the community, according to his peers.

"Ornelas has also done great work for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and takes pride in leading by example," they shared on Instagram. "Engineer Ornelas deserves to be commended as his efforts have done nothing more than greatness for our department."

Follow them @laguna_beach_firefighters on Instagram to see photos and videos.