In commemoration of Black History Month, Los Angeles County is set to celebrate the legacy of a pioneering fire service leader. The late Assistant Fire Chief Hershel Clady will be honored with a dedication ceremony at the very station he once led as a testament to his remarkable career. The County of Los Angeles Second District Supervisor, Holly J. Mitchell, and other dignitaries are expected to attend the ceremony this Saturday at Fire Station 58, stated an announcement by the County.
Clady's career with the LACoFD spanned over three decades, beginning on November 10, 1969, and culminating in his retirement on December 18, 2000. He made history twice with his promotions: first as the department's Black firefighter to become a Fire Fighter Specialist in 1976 and then as the first Black to be promoted to fire captain the following year. The dedication of the fire station is not just a nod to Chief Clady's service but also an acknowledgment to the barriers he broke, according to the County's bulletin.
Fire Station 58 in Ladera Heights, also known as "Clady’s Station," once hosted the LACoFD’s first all-Black firefighter crew under Clady’s leadership. His work with the Los Angeles County Stentorians—an association primarily consisting of African American firefighters—bolstered efforts towards greater inclusivity within the fire department. The station became a cornerstone for training hundreds of firefighters, serving not only the LACoFD but neighboring fire agencies as well.
The upcoming event will be graced by the presence of Anthony C. Marrone, the current County Fire Chief, and a host of retirees such as former County Fire Chief Daryl L. Osby and former Las Vegas Fire and Rescue Fire Chief David L. Washington. Expected to speak on the significance of Clady's contributions and the station's impact on the community are retired County Fire Captain Brent Burton of the African American Firefighter Museum and Johnny Gray III, President of the Los Angeles County Stentorians. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will take place at 5757 South Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles, as per the notice from the County.
