LAFD LEADER HONORED BY HIS PEERS HOLLYWOOD CAPTAIN `A STELLAR LEADER'.

Byline: Josh Kleinbaum Staff Writer

Steve Ruda doesn't see a huge difference between a priest and a fireman. Priests put out the fires in Hell, Ruda said. Firemen put out the fires on Earth.

In front of an eclectic group of priests, nuns and firefighters, the Los Angeles Fire Department on Thursday honored Ruda, a one-time seminary student and 27-year veteran of the Fire Department, as its Firefighter of the Year.

``Seminary taught me about service to others and being able to care for God's children,'' said Ruda, who lives in Northridge and commands the Fire Department's Task Force 27 in Hollywood. ``The foundation for what I do, I found in seminary.''

Ruda graduated from Our Lady Queen of the Angels Seminary in San Fernando in 1970. Instead of joining the priesthood, he went to California State University, Northridge, to get a degree in journalism. After graduating from Northridge, he served three years in the Marines before joining the Los Angeles Fire Department.

He quickly established himself as a leader.

``There's not a selfish bone in his body,'' said Waldie Brangham, a firefighter who has known Ruda for more than 30 years. ``Everything he does is to promote someone else, or for someone else's benefit. He's a stellar leader.

``The guys know, when Steve makes a decision, it's a good one.''

Ruda has been stationed throughout the city, from Northridge to South Los Angeles. He served as captain of Fire Station 39 in Van Nuys from 2002 to 2004 before moving to Hollywood. He's received awards for bravery and valor, including a Medal of Valor in 1996 for exposing himself to gunfire to rescue a police officer who had been shot by a gang member.

His inspirational messages stretch beyond the department. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, he inscribed a message on a quilt to be sent to the Flight 93 National Memorial, honoring the passengers on the hijacked plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. The organizers of the memorial used a phrase he wrote - ``A common field one day, a field of honor forever'' - to serve as its mission statement.

``In that second part, 'a field of honor,' he summed up how in an instant a common field became a field of honor forever,'' said Debby Borza, whose daughter, Deora Bodley, was on Flight 93. ``For him to be able to express that was truly remarkable.''

Ruda was nominated for the Firefighter of the Year award by other firefighters and selected by the Los Angeles City Firefighters Association board. Although the award focuses on 2005, officials treated it more as a lifetime achievement award, stressing accomplishments from Ruda's long career.

``He's done such an incredible job throughout his career,'' said David Frelinger, the association's president. ``He's ushered in so many young firefighters and helped them to develop.''

Displaying one of his trademark traits, Ruda said he wanted to share the Firefighter of the Year award with all his colleagues.

``You don't just accept this award on your own actions,'' Ruda said. ``Those are actions you shared with other firefighters.''

Josh Kleinbaum, [phone]

josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com

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(color) Capt. Steve Ruda, a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department, was honored Thursday at the Omni Hotel in Los Angeles as Firefighter of the Year. Ruda is a Northridge resident.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer