The primary responsibilities of the Training & Support Bureau includes:
- Assisting the Fire Chief as a regular member of his general staff, making recommendations on general policies, practices and procedures.
- Researching and evaluating trends and developments related to communications, dispatching, apparatus, equipment and information systems.
- Directing the activities of the Training Division, as well as the Supply and Maintenance Division.
The Training and Support Bureau oversees the following: Supply and Maintenance Division,Recruit Services Section, In-Service Training Section, Fire Facilities Section, and the Regional Training Section. The following is a breakdown of each respective section:
Supply and Maintenance Division
The Supply and Maintenance Division has the responsibilities for the design, purchase and maintenance of the fire fleet; they also have the responsibility for the purchase of medical supplies, tools, equipment, small engine repair, as well as developing the specifications and purchase of protective gear for members. This includes the purchase and maintenance of breathing apparatus and oxygen cylinder filling and repair. The apparatus maintenance responsibilities include: the repair and body work of light vehicles, heavy apparatus, and specialized vehicles. The Supply and Maintenance Division also handles the logistics of any large-scale incident warranting a supply and support section. The Purchasing Unit handles any and all purchase orders for all supplies needed to support Fire Stations throughout the City and supports the grant unit expenditure of allocated grant funds. The Division also has a carpenter shop that repairs ladders, tables, chair, and any other wood-related project or repair as needed.
Recruit Services Section
The Recruit Services Section supervises three Units: Recruitment Unit, Valley Recruit Training Academy, and Quality Assurance Unit. The Recruitment Unit provides outreach programs to assist in mentoring potential recruits for the Los Angeles Fire Department. This Unit regularly attends recruitment events throughout California and tracks all perspective candidates for follow up contacts. The Recruitment Unit manages and trains the Preparatory Programs such as CPAT, written and interview. This provides another avenue for our recruiters to actively engage in assisting and mentoring under-represented groups through the testing process.
The Recruit Training Academy is responsible for instructing, mentoring, and developing recruits assigned to the Training Academy. They are responsible to comply with California State Fire Marshal requirements and implement best practices for instruction.
The Quality Assurance Unit provides an independent oversight to the Recruit Training Academy all the way through the Recruit’s first year of probation in the field. This Unit ensures a positive work environment and equity in training opportunities for success through training assignments. This Unit provides data collection on trends and avenues for improvements.
Fire Facilities Section
The primary responsibility of the Fire Facilities Section is to ensure that all 106 Fire Stations (and 30+ facilities that house Department members) are in good working condition, which directly affects the health and safety of the members. The Section has oversight over all repair requests submitted (250-400/month average) and ensures that the party responsible for carrying out the repairs is held accountable and that the repairs are completed in a timely fashion, thereby mitigating any negative impact to health and safety. The Section submits yearly budget requests based on the need for improvements to existing facilities and oversees repairs performed when necessary (e.g., large-scale improvements or any issues requiring structural changes). The primary focus for the past 10+ years has been the construction of Proposition “F” Stations and the improvements to the Proposition “Q” Stations. The Section has most recently been called upon to assist Fire Department entities in workspace allocation issues (e.g., FPB/Tech Section move, ASB/MIS move). Currently, the Section has the responsibility of the acquisition of the Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Section and, once the deed is transferred, will plan and oversee the overhaul of the infrastructure systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, phone systems, etc.). The Section also recommends the replacement of facilities and is preparing for a future bond program
In-Service Training Section
The In-Service Training Section (ISTS) is committed to providing training to the members of the LAFD, ensuring that all personnel are trained to the highest levels of competency. ISTS consists of; EMS Training Unit, EMS Educators, DMV/Driver Training Coordinator, Digital Media Service, Leadership Academy, Smoke Recognition Training, and overall Program Development/Delivery Unit. The preparation and delivery of training provided utilizes a holistic approach focusing on safety, effectiveness, and efficiency while preparing Department members for responding to an all-risk environment.
The Los Angeles Fire Department offers a number of In-Service training programs for department members. We also offer continuing education and training for other fire and medical agencies and responders. For additional information, please contact us.
Regional Training Section
The Regional Training Section (RTS) is a sub-group of the Los Angeles Area Fire Chief’s Association (LAAFCA). The LAAFCA represents 31 Fire Departments that are located within CAL EMA Region 1. The RTS provides standardized training throughout the region, ensuring that the fire service can take advantage of the closest available resources regardless of jurisdiction and speed up responses. Standardized regional training utilizing a common command system acts as a force multiplier increasing the capacity and continuity of first responders. The RTS designs, coordinates, delivers, and funds cost-effective fire service training equitable to all the participating agencies within the region. The RTS uses trained instructors to deliver the necessary training at cost-effective shared regional facilities of all types or via multi-media communications to Fire Stations
Critical Incident Planning & Training Section
Located at Frank Hotchkin Memorial Training Center near Downtown Los Angeles, the Critical Incident Planning and Training Section is comprised of one Battalion Chief and eight Fire Captains with a myriad of responsibilities and tasks.
The mission of the Critical Incident Planning and Training Section (CIPTS) is to provide comprehensive training, support, and analysis for the command and management of large-scale, all risk, emergency incidents and specialized training events for the Los Angeles Fire Department and its urban area partners.
Our intent is to standardize regional training through NIMS/NRP simulation-based and practical training exercises. The section consists of four units including:
Exercise Unit: Responsible for design, develop, and deliver all risk exercises and simulation-based training for emergency responders, support personnel and civilian populace within the Los Angeles area. Additionally, the exercise unit plans, coordinates, and oversees internal and multi-agency exercises, which include Table-Top Exercises (TTX), Functional Exercises (FEX), & Full Scale Exercises (FSX).
Special Training Projects Unit: Responsible for After Action Reviews (AAR) for significant incidents internally and assists outside agencies with Post Incident Analysis, coordinate development of the California Joint Training Symposium, coordinate and development of Tactical Decision Games.
Command Post Unit: Responsible for the training, maintenance, and deployment of the two command vehicles assigned to the unit. These units can be deployed to an incident or pre-planned event to assist the incident commanders in both tactical and strategic planning through real time intelligence and data collection. Additionally, this unique type of command platform allows multiple agencies to work together in a Unified Command setting that provides for enhanced communications, intelligence, and real time situational awareness to assist in the stabilization of an incident, which provides for not only the safety of the community we serve but firefighters as well.
Regional Training Unit: Provides comprehensive training, support, and analysis for the Management of Large-Scale Emergency Incidents and specialized training events through the use of pre-established regional standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Los Angeles Fire Department and Urban Area partners.
The Section interfaces with governmental and regional agencies including Law Enforcement, all branches of the Armed Forces, FBI, Los Angeles World Airport, and the United States Secret Service to strengthen and enhance Unified Command positions. The Critical Incident Planning and Training Section develops and presents Post Incident Analysis and After Action Reports for significant incidents internally and for other fire agencies. The Section also provides both mobile and fixed based simulation Command and WMD/ Terrorist related training exercises, such as the Tactical Interoperability Communications Plan (TICP) that was required by the federal government, whereas all first responders would provide for the ability to have designated radio channels patched together allowing for common communication lines to be shared amongst numerous agencies in the event of a terrorist event. The LAFD was not only one of the first agencies to complete this Nation wide requirement, but set the bar with our allied local agencies in completing the task early last year.
The Critical Incident Planning and Training Section, formally known as the Tactical Training Section, formally known as the Tactical Training Group, falls under the direction of the Homeland Security Division. The genesis of the Tactical Training Section was derived from the federal government requiring areas Nationwide that have been identified of being at risk for potential acts of terrorism to form local county and city areas to standardize training into geographical areas or regions, this initiative is better known as the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) requiring first responders to standardize training to include training locations such as chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological, and explosives (CBRNE) sites, common Incident Command Structure (ICS), Unified Command Procedures and guidelines, Field Operations Guideline Manual (FOG) and radio terminology to name a few.
Currently the LAFD Critical Incident Planning and Training Section is one of the leaders of UASI Region 1 Area A that encompasses a total of 31 fire departments, and assists in the delivery of simulation-based training throughout the region. The various methods of delivering these types of training can be accomplished through either our simulation lab here at FHMTC, our UASI funded 42' long simulation trailer, and most importantly the 30 Area Training Officers (ATOs) that represent the 31 fire departments in our region that disseminate the information to their respective agencies.
Our Goal:
Is to design, develop, and deliver exercises and simulation based training pertaining to a possible WMD/Terrorist incident for Fire/Rescue, Law Enforcement and EMS resources in the Los Angeles Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) region.
In a disaster, you don't rise to the level of the situation, you sink to the level of your training. First responders to terror attacks will tell you their ability to perform when it isn't a drill has everything to do with how they performed when it was a drill.
Train as if you life depends on it, because it does.