Los Angeles County Fire Department

The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) provides firefighting and emergency medical services for the unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, California,[1] as well as 59 cities through contracting, including the city of La Habra[4] which is located in Orange County and is the first city outside of Los Angeles County to contract with LACoFD.

Not to be confused with Los Angeles Fire Department.

Los Angeles County Fire Department

Operational area
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Agency overview[1][2][3]
Established	1923
Annual calls	394,585 (2017)
Employees	2813 (2018)
Annual budget	$1.150 billion (2017)
Staffing	Career/Paid-On Call
Fire chief	Daryl L. Osby
EMS level	BLS & ALS
IAFF	1014
Facilities and equipment[1]
Divisions	9
Battalions	22
Stations	174
Engines	171 frontline (staffed & call) 50 reserve
Quints	33
Squads	75
Tenders	14
HAZMAT	3
USAR	2
Wildland	5 – OES Type 3 34 – Patrols
Bulldozers	10
Helicopters	11
Fireboats	2 frontline, 1 reserve
Light and air	4
Website
Official website
IAFF website

As of 2013 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 Daryl L. Osby and has an annual budget of $1.15 Billion.[5] According to Firehouse magazine, the LACoFD is the 4th busiest department in the US, behind New York City Fire Department, Chicago Fire Department, and Los Angeles City Fire Department.[6] The Department responded to 394,585 calls for service in 2017. The LACoFD has been featured several times in popular culture, including the 1970s NBC TV series Emergency! and the 1950s TV series Rescue 8.

History

Patch of the LACoFD, worn on the LACoFD's uniform shirt sleeves.

Badge of an LACoFD firefighter, with badge number 1426.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department began in 1920, and was known as the Los Angeles County Forestry Department and Los Angeles County Fire Protection Districts. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors enlisted Stuart J. Flintham to lead the new department, and directed him to establish a program for fire prevention and firefighting in the county. He succeeded in opening 30 Fire Protection Districts, which served, and continue to serve, towns and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Cities could choose to join the Fire Protection District by allocating property tax for this service. Cities formed as contract cities in the post-World War II period normally retained membership in the Fire Protection District. Following the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, property taxes were capped at 1% and the Fire Department charged cities fees for services when annexation occurred.[7] Properties within the district that are not covered under a fee for service arrangement also pay a special fire tax as a result of Proposition E, passed in 1997.[8]

County vehicles assigned to the Los Angeles County Fire Department continue to list as registered owner the "Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County" on California Department of Motor Vehicles paperwork.

Emergency operations

The Los Angeles County Fire Department Emergency Operations are commanded by Chief Deputy David R. Richardson. The 4 Bureaus that the Chief Deputy oversees contain the bulk of the uniformed firefighting personnel and apparatus that the Fire Department provides, as well as the Technical Services Division. The 3 Operations Bureaus consist of the neighborhood fire stations and camps that are geographically based, while the fourth bureau has specialized teams that respond throughout the county. The 3 Operations Bureaus of LACoFD serve 59 cities and all unincorporated communities with 22 Battalions and 9 Divisions. Each Division is commanded by an assistant chief and each Battalion is commanded by a Battalion Chief. There are 2 Engine Companies at some fire stations. There are Medic Engines and PAU Engines. Fire Station 127 is the famous Emergency! Fire Station and it was designated Station 51 and it is named The Robert A. Cinader Station in honor of the man who made Emergency! famous.

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.[9] 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.[10] The camps are run in conjunction with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

Apparatus

The Los Angeles County Fire Department utilizes a wide array of firefighting apparatus, including Engines, Quints, Trucks, Light Forces (Engine + Quint or Truck), Patrols, and Water Tenders. Support apparatus include Rescue Squads, Hazardous Materials Squads, and Urban Search & Rescue Squads.[1] 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.

Helicopters

Copter 16, a S-70A Firehawk performs a water drop demonstration.

The LA County Fire Department has 10 helicopters available for aerial firefighting.[12][13] With the exception of Copter 10 which is used primarily for command purposes, all copters are outfitted with water drop tanks for aerial firefighting.[14] The headquarters for the Air Operations Section is located at Barton Heliport, next to Whiteman Airport in Pacoima.

• 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 412 Copter 12 is fitted with a 360 US gallons (1,400 L) tank.[14]
• Two Bell 412EP Copter 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 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.

As of May 2020.[15][16]

Fire or Camp station Number	City/unincorporated area	Engine company	Quint company or lightforce Unit	Squad company	Patrol unit	Other units	Reserve units	Division	Battalion
1	East Los Angeles	Engine 1				Foam 1 Fuel Tender 1		9	3
2	Palos Verdes Estates	Engine 2		Squad 2				1	14
3	East Los Angeles	Engine 3	Quint 3	Squad 3				9	3
4	Rosemead	Engine 4	Quint 4					9	10
5	San Gabriel	Engine 5						9	10
6	Lomita	Engine 6		Squad 6				1	14
7	West Hollywood	Paramedic Engine 7		Squad 7		Battalion 1 Utility 1		7	1
8	West Hollywood	Engine 8	Lightforce 8	Squad 8				7	1
10	Carson	Engine 10		Squad 10		Battalion 7 Utility 7		1	7
11	Altadena	Engine 11		Squad 11				3	4
12	Altadena	Engine 12						3	4
14	Los Angeles	Engine 14		Squad 14				6	20
15	Whittier		Quint 15					4	21
16	Los Angeles	Engine 16 Engine 9		Squad 16				6	13
17	Whittier	Engine 17						4	8
18	Inglewood	Paramedic Engine 18						6	20
19	La Cañada Flintridge	Engine 19		Squad 19				3	4
20	Norwalk	Engine 20	Quint 20	Squad 20				4	21
21	Lawndale	Engine 21		Squad 21			ESU 21	1	18
22	Commerce	Engine 22						9	3
23	Bellflower	Engine 23						4	9
24	Palmdale	Engine 24	Quint 24					5	17
25	Pico Rivera	Engine 25						4	8
26	La Puente	Engine 26		Squad 26				8	12
27	Commerce	Engine 27	Quint 27			Battalion 3 Utility 3		9	3
28	Whittier	Engine 28	Quint 28	Squad 28		Battalion 8 Utility 8		4	8
29	Baldwin Park	Engine 29	Quint 29	Squad 29				2	16
30	Cerritos	Engine 30	Quint 30	Squad 30		Battalion 9 Utility 9		4	9
31	Paramount	Engine 31	Quint 31	Squad 31				4	9
32	Azusa	Engine 32		Squad 32		Water Tender 32, MCI 32		2	16
33	Lancaster	Medic Engine 33 Engine 233	Quint 33	Squad 33	Patrol 84	Battalion 11 Utility 11 AP-11	RAC 33	5	11
34	Hawaiian Gardens	Engine 34						4	9
35	Cerritos	Engine 35						4	21
36	Carson	Engine 36 Engine 236		Squad 36				1	7
37	Palmdale	Engine 37		Squad 37				5	17
38	View Park	Engine 38						7	1
39	Bell Gardens	Engine 39		Squad 39				9	3
40	Pico Rivera	Engine 40		Squad 40				4	8
41	Los Angeles	Engine 41		Squad 41				6	13
42	Rosemead	Engine 42						9	10
43	Industry	Engine 43				HazMat 43 Haz Mat Tender 43		8	12
44	Duarte	Engine 44 Engine 244 Engine 444			Patrol 44			2	16
45	Lakewood	Engine 45	Quint 45	Squad 45				4	9
47	Temple City	Engine 47		Squad 47				9	10
48	Irwindale	Engine 48						2	16
49	La Mirada	Engine 49		Squad 49		Battalion 21 Utility 21		4	21
50	Commerce	Engine 50		Squad 50					3
51	Universal City	Engine 51	Quint 51	Squad 51	Patrol 51			7	1
53	Rancho Palos Verdes	Engine 53						1	14
54	South Gate	Engine 54		Squad 54			RAC 54	6	13
55	Avalon	Engine 55 Engine 255			Patrol 55 Patrol 255	Command 55 Helitender 6		1	14
56	Rolling Hills	Engine 56			Patrol 56			1	14
57	South Gate	Engine 57						6	13
58	Ladera Heights	Engine 58		Squad 58				7	1
59	Whittier	PAU Engine 59						4	8
60	Signal Hill	Paramedic Engine 60						4	9
61	Walnut	Engine 61		Squad 61				8	19
62	Claremont	Engine 62			Patrol 62			2	2
63	La Crescenta	Engine 63						3	4
64	San Dimas	Engine 64	Quint 64	Squad 64		Battalion 2 Utility 2		2	2
65	Agoura Hills	Engine 65			Patrol 65			7	5
66	Pasadena	Engine 66			Patrol 66			3	4
67	Calabasas	Engine 67			Patrol 67			7	5
68	Calabasas	Engine 68		Squad 68				7	5
69	Topanga	Engine 69, Engine 269			Patrol 69			7	5
70	Malibu	Engine 70			Patrol 70	Battalion 5, Utility 5, Water Tender 70, Swiftwater 70		7	5
71	Malibu	Engine 71 Engine 271		Squad 71	Patrol 71			7	5
72	Malibu	Engine 72			Patrol 72			7	5
73	Newhall	Engine 73		Squad 73	Patrol 73	Foam 73, Swiftwater 73		3	6
74	Kagel Canyon	Engine 74			Patrol 74			3	4
75	Chatsworth	Engine 75			Patrol 75			3	6
76	Valencia	Engine 76			Patrol 76			3	6
77	Gorman	Engine 77 Engine 477			Patrol 77	Helitender 7		3	6
78[lower-alpha 1]	Lake Hughes	Engine 78			Patrol 78			5	11
79	Pearblossom	Engine 79, Engine 279			Patrol 79			5	17
80	Acton	Engine 80			Patrol 80	Water Tender 80		5	17
81	Agua Dulce	Engine 81			Patrol 81			5	17
82	La Cañada Flintridge	Engine 82	Lightforce 82		Patrol 82	Battalion 4 Utility 4		3	4
83	Rancho Palos Verdes	Engine 83			Patrol 83			1	14
84	Quartz Hill	Engine 84		Squad 84				5	11
85	Glendora	Engine 85 Engine 485				EST 85		2	2
86	Glendora	Engine 86 Engine 286			Patrol 86			2	2
87	La Puente	Engine 87		Squad 87		MAL87, Swift Water Rescue 87, Deluge 87		8	12
88	Malibu	Engine 88		Squad 88				7	5
89	Agoura Hills	Engine 89		Squad 89				7	5
90	South El Monte	Engine 90		Squad 90				9	10
91	Hacienda Heights	Engine 91			Patrol 91			8	12
92	Littlerock	Engine 92		Squad 92	Patrol 92			5	17
93	Palmdale	Engine 93		Squad 93		Battalion 17 Utility 17 AP-17	ESU 93	5	17
94	Lakewood	Engine 94			EST94			4	9
95	Gardena	Engine 95						1	7
96	Whittier	Engine 96						4	8
97	Azusa	Engine 97			Patrol 97			2	16
98	Bellflower	Engine 98		Squad 98				4	9
99	Malibu	Engine 99			Patrol 99			7	5
100	Hermosa Beach	Engine 100		Squad 100				1	18
101	Claremont	Engine 101		Squad 101				2	2
102	Claremont	Engine 102			Patrol 102			2	2
103	Pico Rivera	Paramedic Engine 103				USAR 103, Heavy Rescue 103, Rescue Tender 103, Swiftwater 103		4	8
104	Saugus		Quint 104					3	22
105	Rancho Dominguez	Engine 105				HazMat 105 Haz Mat Tender 105	Deluge 105	1	7
106	Rolling Hills Estates	Engine 106	Quint 106	Squad 106	Patrol 106	Battalion 14 Utility 14		1	14
107	Canyon Country	Engine 107		Squad 107				3	22
108	Santa Clarita	Engine 108						3	22
110	Marina del Rey	Engine 110	Quint 110			Boat 110, Boat 310, Boat 510		7	1
111	Saugus	Engine 111		Squad 111				3	22
112[lower-alpha 2]	Antelope Acres	Engine 112						5	11
114	Lake Los Angeles	Engine 114 Engine 314			Patrol 114			5	17
115	Norwalk	Engine 115		Squad 115				4	21
116	Carson	Engine 116	Quint 116	Squad 116				1	7
117	Lancaster	Engine 117 Engine 317				Water Tender 117		5	11
118	Industry	Engine 118	Quint 118	Squad 118			MIRV 118	8	12
119	Walnut	Engine 119		Squad 119				8	19
120	Diamond Bar	Engine 120			Patrol 120	Water Tender 120, Battalion 19 Utility 19		8	19
121	Diamond Bar	Engine 121						8	19
122	Lakewood	Engine 122						4	9
123	Santa Clarita	Engine 123			Patrol 123			3	22
124	Stevenson Ranch	Engine 124		Squad 124				3	6
125	Calabasas	Engine 125 Engine 4125	Quint 125					7	5
126	Valencia	Engine 126	Quint 126			Battalion 6, Utility 6, Incident Command Post 1	RAC 126	3	6
127	Carson		Quint 127			Foam 127		1	7
128	Santa Clarita	Engine 128			Patrol 128	Water Tender 128		3	22
129	Lancaster	Engine 129				Mobile Air 129, Helitender 1		5	11
130	Lancaster	Engine 130		Squad 130		Water Tender 130		5	11
131	Palmdale	Engine 131		Squad 131				5	17
132	Santa Clarita	Engine 132 Engine 4132 OES Engine 8131			Patrol 132			3	22
134	Lancaster	Engine 134		Squad 134				5	11
135	Lancaster	Engine 135		Squad 135			MIRV 135	5	11
136	Palmdale	Paramedic Engine 136				USAR 136, Rescue Tender 136, Swift Water 136		5	17
140	Leona Valley[lower-alpha 3]	Engine 140						5	11
141	San Dimas	Engine 141						2	2
143	Castaic	Engine 143 Engine 4143				Water Tender 5143		3	6
144	Westlake Village	Engine 144			Patrol 144	Water Tender 144		7	5
145	Rowland Heights	Engine 145				EST 145, Battalion 12 Utility 12		8	12
146	Walnut	Engine 146						8	19
147	Lynwood		Quint 147	Squad 147				6	13
148	Lynwood	Engine 148						6	13
149	Castaic	Engine 149		Squad 149				3	6
150	Santa Clarita	Engine 150				HazMat 150, Hazmat Tender 150, Battalion 22, Utility 22		3	22
151	Glendora	Engine 151		Squad 151				2	2
152	Covina	Engine 152				ESU 152		2	16
153	Covina		Quint 153					2	16
154	Covina	Engine 154		Squad 154		Battalion 16 Utility 16		2	16
155	Two Harbors	Engine 155			Patrol 155			1	14
156	Valencia	Engine 156				Water Tender 156, Helitender 2, Dozer Team 7		3	6
157	Green Valley[lower-alpha 4]	Engine 157						5	11
158	Gardena		Quint 158	Squad 158				1	18
159	Gardena	Engine 159				ESU 159		1	18
160	Hawthorne	Engine 160						1	18
161	Hawthorne		Quint 161	Squad 161		Battalion 18, Utility 18		1	18
162	Hawthorne	Engine 162						1	18
163	Bell	Engine 163		Squad 163				9	3
164	Huntington Park	Engine 164	Quint 164	Squad 164		Battalion 13, Utility 13		6	13
165	Huntington Park	Engine 165				Mobile Air 165		6	13
166	El Monte		Quint 166			Battalion 10, Utility 10		9	10
167	El Monte	Engine 167		Squad 167				9	10
168	El Monte	Engine 168						9	10
169	El Monte	Engine 169						9	10
170	Inglewood		Lightforce 170					6	20
171	Inglewood	Engine 171		Squad 171		Battalion 20, Utility 20	MIRV 171	6	20
172	Inglewood	Engine 172		Squad 172				6	20
173	Inglewood	Engine 173		Squad 173				6	20
182	Pomona	Engine 182		Squad 182				8	15
183	Pomona	Engine 183		Squad 183				8	15
184	Pomona	Engine 184						8	15
185	Pomona		Quint 185			Battalion 15, Utility 15		8	15
186	Pomona	Engine 186						8	15
187	Pomona		Quint 187	Squad 187				8	19
188	Pomona	Engine 188						8	15
191	La Habra	PAU Engine 191		Squad 191		La Habra Ambulance 1		4	21
192	La Habra	PAU Engine 192				La Habra Ambulance 2		4	21
193	La Habra	PAU Engine 193						4	21
194	La Habra	PAU Engine 194						4	21
Camp 2	Arroyo Seco					Crew 2-2, Crew 2-3, Supt 2, Supt 20, Supt 21, Supt 22, Helitender 4		Air/Wildland	46
Camp 8	Malibu					Crew 8-1, Crew 8-2, Supt 8, Helitender		Air/Wildland	46
Camp 9	Mount Pintos					Crew 9-1, Crew 9-2, Supt 9		Air/Wildland	46
Camp 11	Acton					Crew 11-1, Crew 11-2, Crew 11-3, Crew 11-4, Supt 11		Air/Wildland	44
Camp 12	Saugus					Crew 12-1, Crew 12-2, Supt 12		Air/Wildland	46
Camp 13	Malibu					Crew 13-1, Crew 13-2, Crew 13-3, Crew 13-4, Crew 13-5, Supt 13		Air/Wildland	44
Camp 14	Saugus					Crew 14-1, Crew 14-2, Crew 14-3, Crew 14-4, Supt 14		Air/Wildland	44
Camp 16	Tujunga					Crew 16-1, Crew 16-2, Crew 16-3, Crew 16-4, Crew 16-5, Supt 16		Air/Wildland	44
Camp 17	La Verne					Crew 17-1, Crew 17-2, Crew 17-3, Supt 17		Air/Wildland	44
Camp 19	East Fork					Crew 19-1, Crew 19-2, Crew 19-3, Crew 19-4, Crew 19-5, Crew 19-6, Supt 19		Air/Wildland	44
Barton Heliport	Pacoima					Copter 11, Copter 12, Copter 14, Copter 15, Copter 16, Copter 17, Copter 18, Copter 19, Copter 21, Copter 22, Heavy Helitender 1		Air/Wildland	42

Communications Center

LACoFD Dispatch And Communications Center

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.

• Rescue 8 – The syndicated series of the late 1950s focused on Rescue Squad 8 and starred Jim Davis and Lang Jeffries.[17]
• 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.[18] 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.
• Baywatch – The NBC series starring David Hasselhoff focused on the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, a division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles.[19]
• Grand Theft Auto V – Los Santos County Fire Department is based on the LACoFD.

See also

• Heninger Flats
• Los Angeles County Lifeguards – division of the LACoFD focused on patrolling the beaches of Los Angeles County
• PulsePoint – Application used by the LACoFD
• The Stentorians

Notes

1. Supplemented by Call Fire Fighters directly responding to scene
2. Call Fire Fighters
3. Call Fire Fighters
4. Call Fire Fighters

References

1. "2016 Statistic Summary" (PDF). Los Angeles County Fire. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
2. "2017-18 Recommended Budget" (PDF). Los Angeles County Fire. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
3. "Chief Osby". LA County Fire. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
4. McKibben, Dave (9 February 2005). "L.A. County to Absorb La Habra's Fire Unit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
5. "LACoFD Overview March 2017" (PDF).
6. "2017 Run Survey". FireHouse. Firehouse Magazine. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
7. Calwatch (2012-06-25). "M-M-M-My Pomona: Looking at fire - the last place to cut". M-M-M-My Pomona. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
8. http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/supdocs/106403.pdf
9. Sewell, Abby (17 September 2013). "L.A. County to use fire camps for some long-term jail inmates". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
10. Mehta, Seema (17 September 2013). "Los Angeles County to send 500 inmates to fire camps". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
11. Vaccaro, Bob (20 March 2009). "Return of the Tiller Quint". Firefighter Nation. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
12. Pociask, Martin. "Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Section" (PDF). Retrieved 14 February 2015.
13. STILES, MATT (2019-11-03). "Inside a wealthy L.A. man's effort to help pilots fight wildfires from a remote mountain base". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
14. "Air Operations". Code 2. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
15. "Los Angeles County Fire". Code2High. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
16. "Los Angeles County Fire Equipment". FireDepartment.net. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
17. "Rescue 8". IMDb. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
18. "Q & A with Randolph Mantooth". route51.com. 1 February 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
19. Carter, Bill (1995-07-03). "Media: TELEVISION; Stand aside, CNN. America's No. 1 TV export is – no scoffing, please – 'Baywatch". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-10.

External links

• Los Angeles County Fire Department
• County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association
• Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014