Los Angeles Department Battalion Chief Alicia Welch is one of the department’s highest-ranking women, with 25 years of service under her belt. Welch is leading efforts to recruit women and minorities to join the service.
Tell us about LAFD recruitment initiatives.
The goal of the Los Angeles Fire Department is to increase diversity in our workforce by finding qualified women in underrepresented groups so that we can be more reflective of the communities that we serve. Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics and Native American Indians are underrepresented in our work force compared to those folks that live in the city of Los Angeles. We want to reach out to ethnic groups and make sure they know that there’s a good career for them.
What does the makeup of the force look like?
The city is made of about 14 percent Asian Americans, and I can tell you the fire department is about 7 percent Asian Americans – all Asians, not just women. We’re trying to double that number. Our department’s made up of more than 96 percent men. The city of 51 percent women. Based on the type of work firefighting is, it’s physical, and it’s demanding. But we believe women can do the job. They can provide an extra level of service and caring and compassion to Los Angeles. I don’t think we’ll ever be up to 51 percent women in our workforce, but we can do a lot better than 3 percent women.
What is the appeal of joining the LAFD?
It’s a very satisfying profession. You’re helping people. It’s different every single day. One day you’re delivering somebody’s baby, and the next day you could be going to a bushfire. It changes, and that makes it exciting. It’s a profession that requires you to use both your physical and mental assets. You have to be smart and fit. It’s a good-paying job. Then there’s a schedule that’s conducive to family life. We have four days off at a time.
How is LAFD approaching recruitment efforts?
We’ve been spending a lot of time on college campuses and military bases. Specifically in the Asian American community, we’ve worked with Councilman [David] Ryu’s office. We’ve gone to a lot of API events. A lot of times, people are surprised in us reaching out to various community groups – that’s part of our lack of success in having a diverse workforce, because we haven’t traditionally been out in a lot of ethnic-based communities. It’s easy for Caucasian males to see a firetruck go by and see somebody that looks like them, and they can relate and understand that they can be a firefighter, but it’s not as easy for Hispanic people, African American people, women, Asian Americans, to see that same reflection on that fire truck. That’s why it’s important that we go out there.
Why is reflection of the city’s ethnic population in the force so important?
Language is the biggest part of our goal. When we respond to an Asian person’s home or a Hispanic person’s home, it’s important that one, we speak the language, and two, that we understand the culture and that we can break down any barriers based on that connection. The city of Los Angeles has, what, 160 different languages spoken? It’s the second-largest diverse population in the country. We want to make sure we can reach everyone in the city, and that they can see somebody on the firetrucks and ambulances that look and speak the same languages that they do.
Does the LAFD have opportunities for advancement within the department?
We’re the second-largest fire department in the country, and with that comes a variety of assignments. We all go through the fire academy and start out as firefighters, then after that, you can become a fire paramedic. We have firefighter divers, helicopter pilots, heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, engine drivers. You can promote to command level – captains, chief officers. We have inspectors. We have arson inspection. We have a fleet of helicopters and boats. We have dog handlers. We have that variety of different career options, so that if you get bored or you want to learn more, there’s another track you can take. Most of our women – I think it’s something like 30 to 40 percent of our women – are women of rank. The fact that we do have great Asian Americans that serve in our department, we want to make sure that little boys and little girls know that it’s a great career option for them.
Interested in joining the LAFD, or need more information? Check out joinlafd.org!
