On February 10, 2024, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD), in a pioneering collaboration with the Long Beach Fire Department, introduced an inaugural Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) hybrid training class.
The training, a first of its kind for LACoFD, blended online coursework with in-person instruction at Pico Park in the City of Pico Rivera, allowing over 30 participants to complete the course successfully.
The CERT program is designed to teach community members vital safety and life-saving skills to effectively respond to disasters until professional help arrives.
Participants expressed enthusiasm for the flexibility of the new hybrid format, which enabled them to engage in the training at their convenience.
The LACoFD extended its congratulations to all individuals who completed the hybrid class and expressed gratitude to the LACoFD CERT instructor cadre, the Long Beach Fire Department, and the LACoFD Public Education Unit CERT Committee for their roles in this innovative endeavor.
In another commendable event on February 13, 2024, Kathryn Barger, the County of Los Angeles Fifth District Supervisor, honored four LACoFD firefighters from Fire Stations 19 and 63, alongside four deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), for their bravery and teamwork during a home fire rescue in La Cañada Flintridge last month.
The honorees received scrolls from the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors in recognition of their life-saving actions.
Supervisor Barger praised the first responders for their courage and dedication to the communities of the Fifth District, emphasizing the privilege of honoring their heroism.
On February 16, 2024, the LACoFD marked the promotion of several fire captains at the 30th Fire Captain’s Academy, held at the Cecil R. Gehr Combat Training Center.
Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone personally presented the new official badges to the promotees, acknowledging their achievements and wishing them success in their advanced roles.
The ceremony highlighted the department’s ongoing commitment to excellence and leadership within the fire service community.
The recent events within the County of Los Angeles Fire Department underscore the vital role of continuous training, recognition of bravery, and the importance of leadership in enhancing community safety and emergency response.
The introduction of a hybrid CERT training approach represents an adaptive strategy to meet the needs of the community and volunteers, ensuring that more individuals are equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively in times of crisis.
