BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN " BRAIN L. CUMMINGS " IS THE FIRE CHIEF OF LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

             BLACK           SOCIAL             HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             BRIAN L. CUMMINGS
FIRE CHIEF
Los Angeles Fire Department
Fire Chief Brian L. Cummings is a 31-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) with an
exemplary record as a Firefighter, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, Assistant Chief and Chief of Staff.
Chief Cummings joined the LAFD as a Firefighter on February 10, 1980, and was promoted to Engineer in
1988. Chief Cummings then earned promotions to Captain I in 1993 and Captain II in 2000.
In 2003 Chief Cummings took command of LAFD’s Battalion 13, managing five Fire Stations in South Los
Angeles. As a Commander of Battalion 13, Chief Cummings maintained strong relationships with various
community organizations, clubs and churches, as well as with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and
the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
In 2005, Chief Cummings assumed command of the Recruit Training Section of the Los Angeles Fire
Department. During his tenure as the Recruit Training Officer, he was instrumental in the development of the
modular training facility located at the Frank Hotchkin’s Memorial Training Center while managing training
facilities in the San Fernando Valley, Downtown Los Angeles, and San Pedro.
In 2007, Chief Cummings took command of Battalion 6, in the Harbor area, overseeing operations at nine Fire
Stations responsible for fire protection at the Port of Los Angeles, three major refineries and a host of heavy
commercial occupancies. As the Battalion Commander of Battalion 6, Chief Cummings served as the principal
liaison to the United States Coast Guard, Port Authorities, the Chambers of Commerce, the shipping industry,
Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Long Beach Fire Department.
In 2009, Chief Cummings assumed command of LAFD’s Battalion 1, managing five Task Force stations in the
Downtown area of Los Angeles. As the Battalion Commander of the Metropolitan area of Downtown L.A., Chief
Cummings nurtured strong community relations with the various chambers of commerce and local community
organizations.
In 2010, Chief Cummings was assigned to the Planning Section of the Los Angeles Fire Department where he
oversaw the Fire Chief’s staff and assisted with the management of the day to day functions of the Los Angeles
Fire Department. As the Planning Chief, he coordinated research projects, staff studies and formulated the
goals and objectives for the Department.
In December of 2010 Chief Cummings was promoted to the position of Assistant Fire Chief and was appointed
as the Chief of Staff. As the Chief of Staff his primary responsibility was to serve as the Executive Assistant to
the Fire Chief. Chief Cummings assisted the Fire Chief in the planning and implementation of short and long
range goals of the Department. He interacted with the Mayor’s office, members of the City Council, various
civic leaders, and Department Command staff. He was appointed to the position of Fire Chief on September 7,
2011 by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.