The recent retirement of Jim Wells is not the only change taking place in the Los Angeles Fire Department's Community Service Unit.

Along with Jim's much felt absence, the familiar newsroom chant of "Brian from LAFD says..." will also become a thing of the past.

There is no need however, for television assignment desk staff to high-five one another just yet...

Beginning next week, a request to the LAFD's Media and Public Relations Desk to speak with "Brian" will likely be met with a single question: Which Brian do you want?

That's right. Now there are two.

Please welcome Firefighter Brian Ballton as the newest member of LAFD's external relations staff. Filling the vacancy left by Jim Wells, Ballton will become the Public Service Officer on LAFD's 'C Platoon'.

Working a series of alternating 24-hour shifts in the same rat hole office as Firefighters Ron Myers and Brian Humphrey, Ballton brings nearly twenty years of LAFD experience to the fold.

So please join us in welcoming Brian Ballton, and adding his name to your spell-check and Chyron as a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Tags: LA, Los Angeles, LAFD, Los Angeles Fire Department