LAFD Station 69 Captain Awarded Firefighter of the Year

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

Los Angeles Fire Department Captain II Tommy Kitahata from Station 69 in Pacific Palisades has been awarded 2020 Firefighter of the Year by the Los Angeles City Firefighters Association.

LAFFA is the local representative for LAFD members to the statewide California State Firefighters Association. One firefighter is celebrated each year with a luncheon.

“The Los Angeles City Firefighters Association has selected Captain II Thomas Kitahata as the 2020 Firefighter of the Year,” according to a press release.

Kitahata joined LAFD in 1988 and pursued the skills necessary to earn certification for the Urban Search and Rescue, California Task Force One, and was deployed to a number of disasters across the country throughout his career.

Kitahata has “faithfully [served] the citizens and [responded] to all types of emergencies”—most recently with the COVID-19 Logistics Team. Kitahata has also been on deployments across the country, including to New York on September 11, 2001.

Kitahata is one of the few remaining active LAFD members who were sent to New York that day as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency response, according to the press release.

“The LAFD couldn’t be more proud to announce the Los Angeles Firefighters Association’s 2020 ‘Firefighter of the Year’ is Captain II Tommy Kitahata,” the press release continued.

LAFD and Councilmember Mike Bonin celebrated Kitahata’s triumph, both on duty and off.

“Even off duty, he continues to serve his community selflessly organizing to help fellow firefighters, assisting in funerals honoring fallen members, feeding the homeless through his church and helping neighbors during the 2018 wildfires,” Bonin shared in a post on Facebook.

LAFD said Kitahata is the first person to join work parties organized for fellow firefighters and is always the first to jump on a task—his “selflessness” also extends into his community.

“His leadership is valued by his community through his roles as an assistant scoutmaster … his passion for serving his community was instrumental in the successful opening of the Meadow Arts and Technology Elementary school with those efforts being recognized and honored with the California Charter School Volunteer of the Year ward, shared with his wife Cheryl,” according to LAFD.

Kitahata’s current assignment is LAFD Station 69 in the Palisades, but due to the pandemic, he has been helping lead the department’s battle against COVID-19 in the Logistics Unit.