Pasadena Mayor Gordo to Ride With Community Leaders in 2026 Rose Parade

Mayor Victor M. Gordo will be joined by community leaders and residents who played critical roles during the Eaton Fire and subsequent federal immigration activity when he and his family ride in the 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade aboard a rare 1937 American LaFrance fire engine.

The announcement comes as the Tournament of Roses Association prepares for the 2026 Rose Parade, themed “The Magic in Teamwork,” a message city leaders say resonates deeply after a year marked by disaster response, recovery efforts and community solidarity in Pasadena and Altadena.

Gordo, his wife Kelly, and their children, Michael and Emma, will be joined on the historic engine by individuals recognized for courage, service and compassion during some of the city’s most challenging moments.

Among the guests is Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who worked closely with Pasadena and Altadena officials during the early days of the Eaton Fire to align county resources with local needs and expand access to recovery, mental health and community services.

Also riding in the parade will be Pasadena Firefighter/Paramedic Tony Zee, a more than 20-year veteran of the Fire Department and leader of the Pasadena Outreach Response Team, which provides street-level care to people experiencing homelessness and mental health crises. During the Eaton Fire, Zee returned to assist with evacuation and recovery efforts despite being on medical leave while undergoing cancer treatment.

Vicente Ramirez, a longtime Pasadena resident and day laborer, will also join the mayor. Ramirez volunteered in the immediate aftermath of the fire, helping clear debris and clean streets, reflecting the contributions of immigrant community members who assisted neighbors and first responders during the emergency.

Two longtime city employees who lost their homes in the fire will also ride aboard the engine. Kenneth “Kenny” James, a Recreation Supervisor with the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, helped establish and operate evacuation and emergency services even as his family’s Altadena home was destroyed. Malcolm Thomas, an Information Technology Support Specialist and decades-long city employee, continued providing critical IT support to emergency responders while facing the loss of his family home.

“These are individuals who showed up when Pasadena needed them most,” Gordo said in a statement. “They represent the very best of our community, people who led, served and cared for others even as they faced profound personal hardship. This is the magic of teamwork.”

The group will ride aboard Engine L-948, a 1937 American LaFrance fire engine considered a rare piece of American firefighting history. Only eight engines of this model were manufactured, and just two are known to exist today.

The engine was originally purchased in 1937 by the Petaluma Fire Department using funding made available through President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. After decades of service, it fell into disrepair and was sold for scrap in 1960.

Members of the Whyte family acquired the engine in 1989 and undertook an extensive restoration, returning it to its current condition.

“This fire engine, like our community, has endured hardship and been restored through dedication and care,” Gordo said. “It is a powerful symbol of the people riding aboard it, and of a city that moves forward together.”