The Firehouse Yak: Andy Ruiz – Los Angeles Fire Department; Rooted in Training
Peter Matthews talks with Capt. II Andy Ruiz, who oversees the In-Service Training Unit for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). He explains how LAFD is rooted in training with recruits beginning their training at the site where a firefighter was killed in the line-of-duty during a fire at the now-LAFD academy. He shares how the department manages in-service training across 468 square miles at four sites, plus the Frank Hotchkins fire academy.
Ruiz explains how the department has responded to several recent close call incidents that resulted in several firefighters being seriously injured, including implementing fire behavior studies from UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute and the International Association of Fire Fighters. The department launched local training to ensure all firefighters are trained on the latest threats in the field and shares examples where properly trained firefighters have escaped critical injuries.
As he wraps up, Ruiz shares what he predicts to be the biggest challenges in the fire service, locally and globally.
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About the Author
Peter MatthewsPeter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief
Peter Matthews is the editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood Landing, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.
Andrew RuizAndrew Ruiz
Andrew Ruiz, a 30-year fire service veteran, has worked with the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) for the past 28 years. He holds the rank of Captain II and is the Unit Commander for the In Service Training Section of LAFD. Ruiz has also held the rank of Drill Master for the LAFD Fire Academy's rookie school. Outside of the LAFD, Ruiz is the former Lead Master Instructor for the IAFF’s Fire Ground Survival program and has taught internationally since 2009. He is a Lead Instructor for the Rio Hondo Fire Academy in Southern California, where he teaches a variety of disciplines. He has assisted the UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute with the “Coordinated Fire Attack” study and is currently on their Training Advisory Board. Ruiz has an extensive background in training and is committed to firefighter safety.