Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Los Angeles County’s fifth district including Santa Clarita, has authored a motion to provide firefighters in the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) with resources for workplace trauma.

Barger’s motion to address workplace trauma within the LACoFD, coauthored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and set to be heard by the board of supervisors Tuesday, comes in the wake of the fatal Fire Station 81 shooting in Agua Dulce.

“The tragedy at Fire Station 81 was a heartbreaking reminder that while we have done a lot to improve access and awareness of behavioral health and mental health resources, we need to do more,” Barger said. “This motion aims to support our firefighters and provide them with the services they need to minimize the long-lasting impact from exposure to traumatic incidents.”

If passed, the motion would direct the LACoFD to work with the Department of Human Resources and Department of Mental Health and report back in 60 days with a plan to address workplace trauma.

The LACoFD would be expected to create a unit to develop strategies and programs to help firefighters work through traumatic experiences.

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The report is slated to consider changes in the existing internal Peer Support Counselor program.

The motion also calls for a review of the effectiveness of the current complaint process to make sure fire station staff feel comfortable voicing their concerns.

There is set to be a plan to provide mental health visits for employees and their families with culturally competent clinicians, plus peer support and clinician support to retirees.

“I am committed to working alongside our Fire Department, labor representatives and county partners to provide healing and help to Los Angeles County fire personnel,” Barger said.

To address staffing concerns, the motion also asks the Fire Department to reduce vacancies and workers compensation injury vacancies and to decrease staff recalls made necessary by vacancies and injuries.

“There’s no doubt that our firefighters are heroes — but they are also human,” said Hahn. “The trauma that our first responders go through can have a devastating impact on their mental health and the demands of the job can keep them away from their families for long periods of time. We need to take steps to address these serious issues and give our firefighters the support they need.”

A copy of the proposed motion to be heard by the Board of Supervisors can be found here.

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