By Carole Firstman

“When things go bad, it’s not how you fall down, it’s how you bounce back that matters,” says Luis Nevarez, Captain for the city of Tulare Fire Department.

Lots of tragic events can affect who you are and what you do. It’s working through the difficulties that turns a victim into a survivor. Capt. Nevarez knows a thing or two about perseverance. He lost his left hand in the line of duty, but remains with the fire department without any restrictions. Capt. Nevarez is the only upper extremity amputee firefighter on record. He knows firsthand how to climb the next rung of the ladder after facing the most life frightening of dealings.

On January 26, 2002, Nevarez went to work as he had been for the last ten years. That day would change his life forever. Nevarez made contact with a 12,000-volt downed electrical line. If not for the quick actions of a fellow firefighter, Mark Fernandes, who was able to knock the line free, Nevarez wouldn’t be here today.

The fact that Nevarez survived the shock at all is amazing. He experienced severe third-degree burns and had eight exit wounds throughout his body. Nevarez spent thirty-three days in the Burn Center at Community Medical Center in Fresno. The accident resulted in nine excruciating surgeries, several skin grafts, and the amputation of his left hand.

Despite the odds against him, Nevarez was not defeated by his accident—he flourished. Determined to reclaim his life and hang onto his career, Nevarez did what few people expected: He made a full recovery and regained full status as a firefighter within a year of his accident. Capt. Nevarez now uses his experience to reach out and give hope to others who have been through similar experiences. He is a mentor, inspirational speaker, and fire instructor.

Motivation

Since his return to fire suppression, Nevarez was honored with numerous awards, including the Purple Heart at the California State Firefighters Association Conference. He was recognized with a Most Inspirational award from the City of Tulare, and has been keynote speaker at several conferences and events.

Even before his accident, Nevarez was actively involved in the community, often reaching out to at-risk youth, volunteering with senior citizens, and coaching youth sports. “The accident didn’t completely make me who I am today,” he said. He has been actively involved in community service for years.

Nevarez knows how devastating severe burn injuries can be, so he makes himself available to other amputees and burn survivors who are in recovery. He often speaks to patients at the burn center where he was once treated. “I can relate to what they’re going through,” he said. “I lost my hand, but I battled to recover. Then I battled to get my job back, learning how to adapt, using various tools and equipment with a prosthesis.” He has many friends in the Burn Center who lean on him to help other family members and patients get past their post-traumatic stress. “Unless you have been through something like this, it is difficult to comprehend how to get through the day. Just talking with the families and patients allows them to develop coping skills. Some patients are hospitalized for months. Their lives have been changed forever. But change does not have to be a bad thing.”

To show his gratitude to the burn unit where he recovered, Nevarez has also become an avid fundraiser for the hospital. He initiated his hometown’s participation in the Central Valley “Fill the Helmet” day when firefighters stand on each corner of the street and ask motorists to throw their spare change into the helmet.

Although his platform is that of a burn survivor and amputee, Capt. Nevarez doesn’t limit his mentoring time to burn survivors. He speaks at schools’ career day and youth groups, including continuation high school students and after-school programs, in the city of Tulare. “I grew up in an inner-city environment where I had to overcome negative influence” he said. “These kids can do anything they want career-wise. They just need to set goals. I explain to them that I know where they are coming from and if I was able to succeed (or survive), they can also accomplish their goals and dreams.”

Fire Explorers

Nevarez is now targeting high school students who are interested in getting into the fire service. He is manager-advisor of the Fire Explorer program, which gives students fundamental training and allows them to work side-by-side with actual firefighters. Following an introductory training program, Fire Explorers respond to real emergencies with firefighters and paramedics, and assist them by performing routine, supervised tasks at the scene and around the fire station. In addition to teaching Explorers to perform tasks like putting up a ladder, tying knots, and operating fire hoses, Nevarez also addresses the character qualities it takes to be a firefighter, like responsibility and integrity. “I show them how to present themselves as a professional, and how to carry themselves around the community,” but the most important quality he emphasizes is respect, he said. “This will help any young person no matter what profession they decide to pursue.”

Teaching Fellow Firefighters

In addition to his regular duties with the Tulare City Fire Department, Nevarez is also the Training Officer for the department. In this position, Nevarez oversees and coordinates the daily operations and activities of a comprehensive training program within the Fire Department. Nevarez is also a Fire Instructor at several local community college fire academies. Some classes are geared for recruits, while other classes target full-time career firefighters.

As a Confined-Space Rescue Instructor, Capt. Nevarez trains seasoned professionals, leading classes throughout California. Such rescues are complex and include underground vaults, wells, sewers, storage silos, and other confined spaces that are often narrow, poorly lit, and full of atmospheric hazardous. These situations create a limited window in which to perform a rescue—60 percent of confined-space rescue fatalities are would-be rescuers.

Nevarez recently helped take the Tulare City Fire Department’s confined-space rescue training facility international, providing a forty-hour confined-space rescue course, lead by Nevarez, to Bomberos de Mexico, members of the Baja California State Firefighters Association.

The class teaches the Bomberos how to perform a successful rescue in a safe manner. “The training was valuable for them, and it could have not been possible without the assistance of my fellow firefighters volunteering their off-duty time and skills,” said Nevarez.

Inspiration

Nevarez hopes that his story inspires others or gives hope to those facing a similar situation. “My goal is that my experience can somehow motivate others to never give up, not only on your dream, but on your life because you always have choices and the ones you choose will determine your failure or success.” His accident could have ended his career and crushed his spirit. Instead of turning away when life seemed to shut its door on him, Nevarez reached out and opened the door for himself.

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