My nomination for 2020 LAFD Firefighter of the Year is CII Tommy Kitahata.  I feel compelled to honor this man that I have looked up to for 25 years as not only the epitome of the an LAFD Firefighter but more importantly as a man that I strive to emulate.  One of the most remarkable things about Tommy is that in 25 years, I have never come across anyone who has a negative thing to say about him.  The word that I believe best describes Tommy is VIRTUE: behavior showing high moral standards.  What I have come to realize is that Tom’s passion in life is humbly helping others and he has no desire for acknowledgment.  He truly exemplifies the qualities of the LAFD Firefighter of the year.

 

On the job, Tommy has always been the department’s “go-to” guy.  Some of his LAFD accomplishments include:

• 32 year veteran
• Instrumental in the set up of the first COVID 19 testing stations in Los Angeles and he continues to manage the Dodger Stadium Super Site 6 days a week. He has gone above and beyond to help not only LAFD members but their families in need of tests and support.
• Has been a member of every funeral detail for the LAFD for as long as I can remember, and assists with funerals throughout the county using mostly his own time and not getting paid.
• Assisted with multiple A/O Exams (written, practicals and 3 whole score)
• Team member of the FEMA (CATF-1) team and has been been deployed to render aid throughout the United States.
• Instructor of multiple USAR Courses

 

Tommy’s Non-Departmental Volunteer Activities include:

• Boy Scouts of America:
  1. Assistant Scoutmaster of the Year for Ventura County-2019
  2. Assistant Scoutmaster-Troop 716 2008-2019
  3. Coordinator- Annual Joshua Tree rock climbing trip 2008-2019
  4. Certified Climbing Instructor for BSA
  5. Merit Badge Counselor 2008-present
  6. Coordinator-First Aid Event at Camporee 2013-2018
  7. Cub Scout Den Leader 2002-2008

• Meadows Arts & Technology Elementary School (MATES Charter):
  1. Founding Family 2008
  2. Longtime volunteer and fix it guy 2008-present
  3. 2013 Hart Vision Award- California State Volunteer of the Year, California Charter Schools Association, representing over 600,000 students
  4. Safety Committee

• Meadows Elementary
  1. Volunteer 2002-2008
  2. PTA

• Thousand Oaks Little League
  1. Coach/Assistant Coach/Maintenance volunteer 2002-2012
  2. Recipient of the 2010 Earl Stone Lifetime Achievement and Leadership Award
• Ascension Lutheran Church:
  1. Homeless Feeding Program 2008-present
• Good Ol Boys LAFD Fishing Club
  1. President and lead organizer
  2. Raises monies for the LAFRA
• Volunteer- Annual California Coastal Cleanup, 2008-present
• During the 2018 Wildfires, Tommy stayed back while the neighborhood was evacuated and drove around all night putting out embers in neighbors’ yards. He fought fire with garden hoses, prepped structures, and even went to put out flames on a hillside very close to homes.  He helped the arriving strike team position themselves on a hillside church whose driveway was hard to navigate. He basically saved all of the Conejo Oaks Community.
• Has helped many Firefighters who are injured or sick with work parties, support and now assisting with COVID testing.
• Has mentored many young kids in his First in district where ever he’s assigned.

Tom Kitahata encompasses everything good in the LAFD and those that work for him or around him are all the better for it.

He’s not a tall man by any means but a Giant in all he does for others.

We have seen and appreciate the show of support from the community regarding the Boyd Street incident on Saturday, May 16. We are confident our LAFD members are receiving the best care possible, but if you’d like to make a donation to assist firefighters and their families in times of need, please use the link below. The Widows Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund? has been taking care of the LAFD for more than 100 years and your donations are tax-deductible.

Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighters Fund