From the Fairway to the Firehouse: LPGA Players Connect with LA Firefighters
By Emily Cho
TARZANA - The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro will welcome some very special spectators this week. JM Eagle is offering complimentary admission to anyone affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires. But that’s not all.
On Tuesday, firefighters at LA Fire Station 83 in Encino received a surprise visit from LPGA players Andrea Lee, Nataliya Guseva, and Brittany Altomare. The players toured the station and asked questions to the crew about their job.
“It was great. I mean, it's my first time definitely at the fire department,” said Guseva. “I've never really heard how hard it is…I think it was just in general like a great set-up for us to see how firefighters are dealing with the fires in general, but also with the LA fires.”
During the visit, the firefighters explained how they train and practice to be able to respond to emergencies in under a minute.
During the LA fires, Station 83 played a critical role, serving as a base camp for strike teams coming from all over California. Crews worked 24-hour shifts to try to contain the fires. Guseva called them “our superheroes.”
“If you want to be a firefighter, you have to be fearless. I think it's one of the most important things in your life is just being fearless and being confident in what you're doing.”
When asked about the scariest part of their job, the firefighters said the unknown: the feeling of being disoriented and unfamiliar in a chaotic situation. It’s something Andrea Lee could relate to, partly.
“As a golfer, I feel like we kind of jump into the unknown every day. We don't know what we're going to get on the golf course. But for them, it's kind of like almost life and death sometimes.”
When not fighting fires, almost 9 out of 10 calls they receive are medical emergencies. The players got a glimpse of that reality when the crew received a call right as the tour wrapped up. Within seconds, the crew suited up and were out the door.
“I have so much respect and admiration for first responders,” said Altomare. “They do so much for their communities, and I really appreciate what they do for us, and I wanted to show my support and come here and show my gratitude.”
As a big thank you, the players gave complimentary tournament tickets to the entire firehouse, courtesy of JM Eagle.
“Nothing can compare to losing your home and all your valuables,” said Lee. “I think JM Eagle is giving back in such a great way, and hopefully, some of the community will be able to come out and just enjoy the weekend.”
Being an LA local, this was more than just an educational field trip for Lee; it was a chance for her to be a part of the community.
“I'm so honored to be a part of this community,” she said. “I'm just going to go out there during the tournament this week and just play my best and keep those that were affected in my mind.”
