171 frontline Engine Companies (staffed & call) including 5 Paramedic/Advanced Life Support (ALS) Units + 28 Paramedic Assessment Unit (PAU) Units 61 reserve
As of 2021[update], the department is responsible for just over 4 million residents spread out in over 1.2 million housing units across an area of 2,305 square miles (5,970 km2).[1] The department is commanded by Chief Anthony C. Marrone and has an annual budget of $1.4 billion.[5] According to Firehouse magazine, the LACoFD is the fourth busiest department in the United States, behind New York City Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department, and Los Angeles City Fire Department.[6] The LACoFD has been featured several times in popular culture, including the 1970s NBC TV series Emergency! and the 1950s TV series Rescue 8.
In 2021, the department engaged in 312,550 emergency medical responses and a total of 403,924 total responses.
History
Patch of the LACoFD, worn on the LACoFD's uniform shirt sleeves.
Badge of an LACoFD firefighter, with badge number 1426.
In 1949, the Consolidated Fire Protection District was established by the Board of Supervisors
through the consolidation of numerous fire districts which existed since the 1920s. From 1967 to
1986, there existed four fire protection districts within the Los Angeles County, all of which were
governed by the Board of Supervisors: the Consolidated Fire Protection District (CFPD), Universal
Fire Protection District, Dominguez Fire Protection District, and Wrightwood Fire Protection
District. In addition, there was the Forester and Fire Warden (F&FW) which is a chartered office
of the County and was funded by the General Fund. The property tax rate for each district was
considerably different.
With the property tax limitations and standardization of tax rates established by Proposition 13 in
1978, there was no longer a need to maintain the separate districts. From 1986 to 1992, the F&FW
and the CFPD were the two remaining legal entities that made up what is commonly known as the
Los Angeles County Fire Department. In 1992, the CFPD annexed all the remaining unincorporated
area in with a corresponding property tax transfer to fulfill the chartered responsibilities of the
F&FW.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department has a very rich and unique history, which is full of
innovation, and daring accomplishments. From designing the 9-1-1 system and initiating a
paramedic program in the 1970's to the current day Urban Search and Rescue and Homeland
Security Sections, our Fire Department is a leader and model to fire departments around the
world. Our Department's ability to develop new techniques and tactics to fight fires of all kinds
has benefited not only the residents we serve, but the fire service in general, both nationally and
internationally.[7]
Emergency operations
The Emergency Operations Bureau includes the Training and EMS Bureau (TEMSB), nine major firefighting divisions, Air and Wildland Division, and Homeland Security Section. The Fire Department's service area includes suburban neighborhoods, city centers, commercial district, sandy beaches, mountain ranges, and more. The region's varying terrain causes unique emergency incident challenges, including increased EMS calls and variety of fires that can take place on a single day (i.e., wildland, structure, railroad, aircraft, vehicle, etc.) as well as ocean rescues and medical calls across 72 miles of coastline.[7]
Fire suppression camps
The LACoFD has 10 fire camps with handcrews which are used for both fire prevention and wildland firefighting. In 2013, to help combat jail crowding as well as increase time served by serious criminal offenders, Los Angeles County sent more than 500 inmates to firefighting camps in mountain and foothill areas.[8] Inmates assigned to the camps are nonviolent offenders who have completed physical and security screenings. They are trained by county firefighters to help fight fires and assist with clearing brush and debris.[9] The camps are run in conjunction with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Los Angeles County Probation Department.
LACoFD apparatus are painted reddish-orange as opposed to LAFD apparatus, which are fire engine red.
Tiller trucks
While many modern fire departments have opted to go with trucks/quints that have rear-mounted ladders, the LACoFD has chosen to stay with tiller trucks because of their enhanced maneuverability in tight areas.[11] The benefit of a quint is that it also has a built in pump and water tank and can thus operate without an engine. The Tiller trucks carry fire suppression tools and medical equipment as well as specialized rescue equipment for responses to a variety of emergencies.
Helicopters
Copter 16, a S-70A Firehawk performs a water drop demonstration.
Five Sikorsky S-70A/S-70i Firehawks Copter 15, Copter 16, Copter 19, Copter 21, and Copter 22 are fitted with 1,000 US gallons (3,800 L) tanks.[14]
One Bell 412Copter 12 is fitted with a 360 US gallons (1,400 L) tank.[14]
Two Bell 412EPCopter 11 and Copter 14 are outfitted with 360 US gallons (1,400 L) tanks.[14]
Two Bell 412HP Copter 17 and Copter 18 are outfitted with 360 US gallons (1,400 L) tanks.[14]
Stations and apparatus
Former Engine Company 81, a 1998 KME triple combination pumper at Vasquez Rocks serving Agua Dulce, California.
LA County Engine Company 23, serving the city of Bellflower. Engine 23 has been painted in the latest color scheme, red/orange overall with a reflective yellow stripe down the side and a reflective chevron pattern on the back.
Some Stations have 2 engines. Engines with a 4+station number are cross-staffed Type 3 wildland engines. Units marked “paramedic/Advanced Life Support” are full medic units (two paramedics on board). Units marked “PAU” are paramedic assessment units (one paramedic on board).
The LACoFD is currently dispatched from the P. Michael Freeman Command And Control Facility at the county fire operations center in East Los Angeles. (Location: 34.0526454N, 118.1724628W)
In popular culture
Paramedic Rescue Squad 51 from the NBC-Universal television series, Emergency!.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department has been featured in multiple different television series.
Emergency! – The NBC series of the 1970s dramatized a department paramedic rescue squad, popularly credited for encouraging the widespread adaptation of paramedics. The exterior fire station scenes for the fictional station 51 in the series were shot at county fire station 127.[19] It is now called the Robert A. Cinader Memorial Fire Station in honor of the television producer who made the station famous. In addition, the fire station on the Universal Pictures lot in Universal City, where the series was produced, was initially designated Station 60 during the production of the series, and is now designated Station 51.
