Brian LaBrie, Apparatus Operator

“It was a childhood dream.” Growing up in Montana, Brian LaBrie knew that his path led to the fire department.

“My father and grandfather were volunteer firefighters. I was surrounded by this my whole life. It’s where I wanted to be.”

Thirty-three years since joining the department, Brian has made a name as a hard worker, a dedicated colleague, and a disciplined trainer.  

“Apparatus Operator (AO) Brian LaBrie is easily one of the hardest workers in our 3500+ member department.”Captain II Shaun Gath works with Brian at Fire Station 3, serving a dense 1.8 square mile area of downtown Los Angeles. Brian's vast skill set is put to work every day on Heavy Rescue 3, a 50-ton wrecker/recovery vehicle which is the only one of its kind on the LAFD.”

Heavy Rescue 3 is an imposing apparatus, towering over the other engines in the motor pool. With incredible lifting capabilities, it is a vital part of rescue operations in Los Angeles. As a leader of the Heavy Rescue team, Brian is responsible for training new members, equipment operation, and safety. “We’ve had service trucks roll over another car, cement trucks crashing into commercial vehicles.” The success of the Heavy Rescue team has inspired Orange County and even Ontario, Canada to launch their own programs.  

Brian is one of the founding members of the LAFD Swift Water Team, a program that is just reaching the thirty-year mark. In coordination with dozens of local and federal organizations—including the Army Corps of Engineers—the Swift Water Team conducts rescue operations around the flood control channels and waterways of the city. Brian worked alongside the original 28 organizations to develop standards and practices that are still used to this day.

In addition to his work in the department’s Urban Search and Rescue and FEMA’s California Task Force 1 (CATF-1), Brian was the department’s logistics chief during the COVID-19 crisis. He oversaw the establishment and operation of one of the largest testing facilities in the country. Under his guidance, the department tested over 4 million people in just two years.  

Captain Gath considers Brian's work to have been instrumental.

“He was responsible for logistics at every department test site, vaccination site, and every COVID-focused operation that the City of Los Angeles undertook. The City of LA and the LAFD would not have been as successful in their COVID response without Brian and his tireless efforts.” 

When he’s not working or training at Fire Station 3, Brian loves to spend time with his two children: Cameron (24) and Jacob (19).

Brian is a strong believer in the power of training, and he encourages the younger generation of LAFD firefighters to always be open to learning. “People lose motivation when they stop learning. And teaching is the biggest thing [to keep people motivated.]”