On April 1, 2015, at a reception and luncheon at the Downtown DoubleTree Hotel, Capt II Jack Fry was recognized as the recipient of the LAFD’s 2014 Firefighter of the Year honor. Awarded by the Los Angeles City Firefighter’s Association, this honor of distinction is given to a member who, not by any single act, has distinguished himself as one of outstanding character, dedication and loyalty to the Department, the Fire Service and the community.
Jack Fry’s ongoing and continued efforts are worthy of the 2014 Firefighter of the Year award. He has a positive image that has been acknowledged throughout California for his innovative teaching style, outstanding performance, and grasp of the educational environment. His attention to detail, mentoring ability, and teaching expertise put him in an elite class of professionalism.
Jack has distinguished himself in the area of training and education because he is excited and passionate about safety. He has completed numerous State Fire Marshal, Hazardous Materials, and Terrorism courses to enhance his skills in organizational leadership. He is currently and has been teaching hazardous materials and EMS courses for the past 17 years.
Several years ago, Jack was recognized as the “Hazardous Materials Instructor of the Year” for his continued efforts training fire service, military, and private sector personnel. Each year the hazardous materials community recognizes a fire instructor whose acts and deeds as an instructor serve as an example to the profession, their department, their community and their peers alike. The instructor of the year demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the fire service and hazardous materials field by teaching and encouraging others to progress themselves and their organizations to pursue excellence. Jack is recognized as someone who has played a key role in creating and/or promoting innovations and achievements in hazardous materials training and education.
Fry has more than 35 years of service with the LAFD and has been a captain for 23 years. He is currently assigned to the Joint Regional Intelligence Section within the Homeland Security Division. His prior assignment was at the Critical Incident Planning and Training Alliance. He promoted to the rank of Captain I on April 5, 1992 and Captain II on April 15, 2007. He has worked throughout the city on various assignments and details.
Jack current assignment takes him into the world of intelligence. He is assigned to the Joint Regional Intelligence Center located in Norwalk, California. This assignment requires Jack to develop, maintain, and coordinate the Fire Department Terrorism Liaison Officer (TLO) Program. He is directly responsible for developing a network of Fire Department members, both internal and external, in conjunction with local law enforcement, in order to share terrorism elated information. This involves effectively collecting and sharing information to Fire Department personnel within a seven county region which includes San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange.
Jack has been married for 29 years to Mary, the love and inspiration of his life. They have two children: Danny who is pursuing a firefighting career following Jack’s footsteps and daughter Stephanie who works for Harrah’s in Las Vegas where she lives with her husband and children. Jack and Mary have spent more than a decade managing a youth theater group. Their current adventure, the Curtain Call Company is a group of local theatre veterans that produce adult-cast comedies, dinner theatre murder mysteries. This is a non-profit program where Jack and Mary donate their time, money, and resources. Jack not only helps to build the sets, he participates in the productions and offers assistance in a variety of ways.
Jack has also participated in many community based activities, supporting his children throughout the years. This includes assisting the local Cub Scout Troop, helping neighbors, and volunteering his time to make a difference. If there was a need or request, Jack would be there to offer assistance or provide whatever skills needed to accomplish the goal.
Jack has gained the respect of his subordinates and colleagues. He takes time to share his knowledge and experience in an effort to saves lives and reduce injuries. Jack takes personal interest in the members of this department and ensures he takes time to develop their interests and enhance their strengths. The mechanism he uses is his natural ability to connect with those around him, taking full advantage of his assignments and opportunities to make people in the community safer.
