COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT'S HURD IS A MAN ON THE GO.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- Firefighter Jason Hurd keeps a cool head as spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, but off-duty he sizzles, refereeing high school football games, umpiring baseball and, in winter, towing injured skiers down Big Bear's slopes as part of the volunteer ski patrol.

His ride's a snowboard though, not a conventional pair of skis.

A longtime friend and former paramedic who's accompanied Hurd on ride-alongs with the Fire Department says her buddy quick-clicks with people.

``No matter if it's a 2-year-old who just got hit by a car or 22-year-old gang member who just got shot, or a grandma ... he just has a way of reaching out to people and getting them to calm down, getting them to understand what is going on and getting them help,'' Nicolle Larson said.

Larson, 32, now teaches middle school in Nevada but had volunteered with Hurd in the National Ski Patrol for roughly five years. The 6-foot-3-inch firefighter still winds down Bear Mountain and Snow Summit, towing a toboggan with his extra-wide and long board.

Hurd, 33, has worked six-plus years at the Fire Department, serving as one of three regional public information officers. His turf is Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, Alta Dena, La Canada Flintridge and La Crescenta. He lives in Diamond Bar but occasionally pitches in at fire stations in Agoura or Calabasas on weekends.

``I am a total outdoors person. I love being active,'' he said. And helping others to be active. For years he's been a fitness trainer for the department's wellness and fitness program.

Hurd's resume includes a 12-year stint with the La Habra Heights Fire Department, a mostly volunteer force he joined while still in college. He began as a volunteer and worked his way up to division chief.

Later, as a hazardous materials specialist for the fire department in Vernon, he helped neutralize a toxic peroxide leak on an asphalt pavement.

``It becomes shock-sensitive, creates a compound where any movement or shock to the area would create an explosive situation,'' he said.

No surprise he's a big fan of the procedural TV show ``CSI,'' but Hurd has never ventured onto a set, despite the popular program's local film shoots.

He's a big music fan, favoring alternative, country, 80s and old school, however, that's not what's on the iPod.

``It's study material for the next captain exam,'' he said. ``This position is hopefully a steppingstone.''

Co-worker Stephanie English, who ventures into the community with Hurd, says he's spot on.

``He has a very quirky sense of humor (and) he's very good at what he does,'' she said. ``He's focused on his job when he needs to be focused and light-hearted when the opportunity presents itself.''

As part of his fitness routine, Hurd hits the gym three to five times a week, weightlifting and swimming. And he's hands-on remodeling the 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom home he shares with beagles Buddy and Riley. His activities and focus on the captain's exam leave little time for a relationship, but he has no shortage of admirers.

``He is a guy that is not only good looking on the outside, he's good looking on the inside,'' said Gail Ortiz, a spokeswoman for the City of Santa Clarita. She recalled the time Hurd sought referrals for a troubled woman he'd met while stopping off for a soda. ``I was very touched that a man who is that young would have that kind of sensitivity. He not only took time to talk with the woman but followed up.''

Larson chimed in.

``He's different,'' she said. ``If I wasn't married I'd marry him!''

Hurd caught the fire-battling bug as a high school freshman, while writing a research paper on interesting occupations. His family members were not in the profession, but his brother's in-laws include two county fire captains.

The youngest of five siblings, Hurd still can't shake the curse of being the baby.

``It always enters my mind, being the youngest growing up, my oldest brother and my dad always used to tell my sister `That kid's going to be so spoiled he's not going to be able to do anything for himself,''' Hurd recalls.

He credits his brother Greg, who was six years older, with igniting his passion for volleyball and in a roundabout way, firefighting.

``One of the things that's really exciting about the fire department is it's something different every day,'' Hurd said. ``I've always been someone always wanting to lend a hand, to help people out.'' Greg was killed in a car collision when he was 20 and Jason was 14.

``When that happened to my brother, it strengthened that urge,'' Hurd said.

No couch spud, Hurd plays a friendly game of beach volleyball in Newport Beach in the summer and plays on an adult water polo team in Los Angeles. He swam with sharks on the Great Barrier Reef -- not great whites, though. Hurd denies he's a full-throttle thrillseeker.

``I'm not a real big daredevil,'' he said. ``Even when I snowboard, I don't do a lot of tricks.''

Larson observed he also never stops going.

``I think that's what keeps him going,'' she said. ``If he were to stop, some stress of life would get to him, that's something he doesn't want to happen. That's why he goes 100 mph.''

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(color) Jason Hurd, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, also works as a ski patrolman on weekends.

David Crane/Staff Photographer