Enrique Hurtado, far right, executive director of the gang intervention program Aztecs Rising, speaks to a group of potential forest firefighters. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Ramon Maestas, once a gang member and now a heroic firefighter, leads his crew members on a run in Elysian Fields Park to stay in shape between fires. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Maestas, known as the menacing Little Ray back in Echo Park, leads his crew through the ash in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. He excelled in the Aztecs Rising training program and was soon promoted to lead his crew. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Walter Campos, 21, background, and Daniel Navarro, 20, grimace through leg lifts as squad boss Maestas hollers, “Keep ‘em up, dog. You can do it, baby. ... This one’s for the crew.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
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Patrick Miramontez, 25, left, and Campos taking a smoking break. Nearly 2,000 young men and women have graduated from the Aztecs Rising program since it was launched in 1994, most of them moving off the street and into steady jobs. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
Maestas, center, Daniel Navarro and Francois Shoumounejad, top, playfully dog pile atop Miramontez. Speaking of the praise he received from residents in the fire zone, Maestas said, Ive never had people treat me like that before. Its beautiful.” (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times)
