The Los Angeles County Fire Department has published Engineering our Future, a strategic plan to address the Department’s goals and priorities in its desire to provide more effective emergency services to the millions of residents its serves each day.  The 52-page report sets goals for preventing injury and illness, innovating new delivery systems, ensuring the Department’s financial stability, containing risks, increasing its use of technology, forming better communication with each community and building relationships with local public, private and non-profit organizations.

“While we enjoy a proud legacy of innovation and exemplary service, we plan to become a multi-faceted global leader in public safety services by 2020,” says Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby.  “We have embarked on a multi-year strategic planning effort to set a new course for our almost 90-year-old organization.  Our goal is to deliver the most innovative, caring, and efficient emergency services possible – all supported by the most technologically advanced business services.”

The plan’s 12 goals, with accompanying strategies and projects, were created with direct input from the organization’s team of uniformed and business members at all ranks who carry out the Department’s daily mission.

“This approach was uniquely collaborative, given our paramilitary-style organization,” says Osby. “From the first day of this effort in 2011, we set aside rank and invited all 4,800 members of our team to submit suggestions and project ideas, and to become active members of the project teams.  Because of their input and involvement, we expanded our plan from seven to twelve goals.  It is ambitious, but we have always achieved what we have set out to do.”

The Department has posted the plan on its website at www.fire.lacounty.gov, and will publicize it on its social media sites, including Facebook (facebook.com/LACoFD), Twitter (@LACo_FD) and YouTube (youtube.com/user/LosAngelesCountyFD).  A full copy of the report may be downloaded at:fire.lacounty.gov/PDFs/LACFD_Strategic%20Plan_2012_web.pdf.