Los Angeles County Fire Department
| Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) |
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| Established | 1920 |
| Staffing | Combination (Career & Paid Call) |
| Strength | 3,892 uniformed firefighters & administrative staff, 121 full-time, 654 seasonal lifeguards |
| Stations | 171 |
| Engines | 163 |
| Trucks | 32 |
| Squads | 67 |
| Bulldozers | 10 |
| Helicopters | 9 (6 Bell 412s, 3 Sikorsky S-70 Firehawks) |
| Fireboats | 2 |
| EMS Level | ALS |
| Fire chief | Daryl L. Osby |
The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including La Habra. La Habra is in Orange County and is the first city outside of Los Angeles County to contract with LACoFD. It should not be confused with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, which serves the city of Los Angeles. The county fire department has its headquarters in the unincorporated portion of East Los Angeles. In 2010, the LA County Fire Department had an annual budget of $939,017,000.[1]
The department is commanded by Chief Daryl L. Osby, who has two subordinate Chief Deputies. In turn, each Chief Deputy heads either the Emergency Operations or Business Operations of the department.
The department was featured in the 1970s NBC television series Emergency!, which dramatized a department paramedic rescue squad; and before that, in the 1958-1960 syndicated series Rescue 8, with Jim Davis (1909–1981) and Lang Jeffries (1930–1987). Rescue 8 featured heart-warming stories about a rescue squad prior to the practice of squad members also being trained as paramedics. David Hasselhoff's Baywatch series, depicting a glamorous version of the department's lifeguards, was filmed mostly on location at Los Angeles County beaches.
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History [edit]
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, small towns and the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.
County vehicles assigned to the Los Angeles County Fire Department continue to list as registered owner the "County of Los Angeles Fire Protection Districts" on California Department of Motor Vehicles paperwork.
Fire Chiefs [edit]
- Stuart J. Flintham (1920–1925)
- Spence D. Turner (1925–1952)
- Cecil R. Gehr (1952–1953)
- Keith E. Klinger (1953–1969)
- Richard H. Houts (1969–1977)
- Clyde A. Bragdon (1977–1984)
- John Englund (1984–1988)
- P. Michael Freeman (1989–2010)
- Daryl L. Osby (2011–Present)
Apparatus [edit]
The Los Angeles County Fire Department utilizes a wide array of fire apparatus, including Engines, Quints, Trucks, Light Forces(Combination of a Truck and a Quint), Paramedic Rescue Squads, ESTs, Water Tenders, Patrols as well as Hazardous Materials Squads and USAR Units. Los Angeles County Fire Apparatus are painted reddish-orange as opposed to LA City Fire's being red.
Paramedic Rescue Squads [edit]
The department does not transport patients in ground ambulances. Rather, county paramedics provide treatment while privately contracted ambulances provide transportation to the hospital. Patients are carried in the department's helicopters, however. Dr. Ronald Stewart - Founding medical director of the Los Angeles County paramedic program and Medical Director for LA paramedics.
Aircraft [edit]
The LAcoFD utilizes two brands of firefighting helicopters:
Emergency Operations [edit]
The Los Angeles County Fire Department Emergency Operations are commanded by Chief Deputy Mike Metro. The 4 Bureaus that the Chief Deputy oversees contain the bulk of the firefighting and rescue 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 58 cities with 22 Battalions and 9 Divisions. Each Division is commanded by an assistant chief, the only exception being the Lifeguard Division, which is led by the Chief Lifeguard. Each bureau has a regional headquarters:
- North Region Headquarters is located at Fire Station # 126 in Santa Clarita.
- East Region Headquarters is located at Fire Station # 118 in Industry.
- Central Region Headquarters is located at Fire Station # 171 in Inglewood.
Technical Operations Division [edit]
This division contains the personnel and apparatus for the Urban Search and Rescue team, HAZMAT, Swift Water Rescue, Canine Search Program, and several other programs.
North Regional Operations Bureau [edit]
Currently commanded by Deputy Chief John Tripp, and commands a total of 3 Divisions(including the Air and Wildland Division).
Division 3 [edit]
Division 3 commands a total of 3 Battalions, 23 Fire Stations, and 6 Camps.
- Battalion 4
- Altadena - 11, 12
- Kagel Canyon - 74
- La Canada Flintridge - 19, 82 (Battalion HQ)
- La Crescenta - 63
- Pasadena - 66
- Camp 2, 15, 16 (Relocated)
- Battalion 6
- Santa Clarita - 73, 76, 124, 126 (Battalion HQ), 156
- Castaic - 149
- Chatsworth - 75
- Gorman - 77
- Camp 9, 12, 14
- Battalion 22
- Agua Dulce - 81 (The Eye of the Storm)
- Santa Clarita - 104, 107, 108, 111, 123, 128, 132, 150 (Haz-Mat) (Battalion HQ) (Division HQ)
Division 5 [edit]
Division 5 commands a total of 2 Battalions, 20 Fire Stations, and 1 Camp.
- Battalion 11
- Antelope Acres - 112
- Green Valley - 157
- Lake Hughes - 78
- Lancaster - 33 (Battalion HQ), 117, 129, 130, 134, 135
- Leona Valley - 140
- Quartz Hill - 84
- Battalion 17
- Acton - 80
- Lake Los Angeles - 114
- Little Rock - 92
- Palmdale - 24 (Battalion HQ), 37, 93, 131, 136
- Pearblossom - 79
- Camp 11
Air and Wildland Division [edit]
The Air and Wildland Division is commanded by an Assistant Chief, and is composed of two sections: the Fire Suppression Camp Section and the Air Operations Section.[2] This division also oversees the Heavy Equipment and Transportation Units.
Fire Suppression Camp Section [edit]
The camp section is divided into two units, one containing the five paid/probation camps (Camps II), and the other containing the five inmate camps (Camps I). Camps I is operated in conjunction with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Camps I is composed of Camp 11, Camp 13, Camp 14, Camp 16, and Camp 19. Camps II is composed of Camp 2, Camp 8, Camp 9, Camp 12, and Camp 15. Camp 15 is operated in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Probation Department. The camps provide wildland fire suppression for the county, utilizing bulldozers as well as air support.
Air Operations Section [edit]
The Air Operations Section consists of nine helicopters which provide air support for medical rescues, search and rescue, and wildland fires. The department has three Sikorsky S-70A Fire Hawk helicopters and six Bell 412 helicopters.[3] The headquarters for the Air Operations Section is located at Barton Heliport, next to Whiteman Airport in Pacoima.
Central Regional Operations Bureau [edit]
Currently commanded by Deputy Chief Mark J. Bennett and commands a total of 4 Divisions(including the Lifeguard Division).
Division 1 [edit]
Division 1 commands a total of 3 Battalions and 20 Fire Stations.
- Battalion 7
- Carson - 10 (Battalion HQ), 36, 116, 127
- Gardena - 95
- Rancho Dominguez - 105
- Battalion 14
- Two Harbors - 155
- Avalon - 55
- Lomita - 6
- Palos Verdes Estates - 2
- Rancho Palos Verdes - 83, 53
- Rolling Hills - 56
- Rolling Hills Estates - 106 (Battalion HQ)
- Battalion 18
Division 6 [edit]
Division 6 is 13 fire Stations in 2 Battalions. It is the busiest of the divisions in run totals and fires, Two of the Trucks are 1 and 2 in runs and fires, 3 engines from division 6 are in the top 4 in emergency responses. Division 6 generates more major incident reports than any other division with 95 in 2012, and 84 in 2011, No station is in the bottom 1/2 of the department in run totals. The personnel in the division have 4 strategic goals to guide them, and they pride themselves on providing excellent service, developing and taking care of the personnel, being fiscally responsible and connecting with the community. Division 6 has more Union directors, more Stentorian officers, more Bomberos board members than any other division. Division 6 is the department leader in emergency activity, and community involvement, it exemplifies the departments core values of commitment, courage, community, caring, integrity and teamwork.
- Battalion 13
- Florence - 16
- Huntington Park - 164 (division HQ and Battalion HQ) , 165
- Lynwood - 147, 148
- South Gate - 54, 57
- Willowbrook - 41
- Battalion 20
- Los Angeles - 14
- Inglewood - 170, 171 (Battalion HQ), 173
- Lennox - 18
Division 7 [edit]
Division 7 commands a total of 2 Battalions, 18 Fire Stations, and 2 Camps.
- Battalion 1
| Engine Company | Quint/Light Force Company | Squad | Special Unit | Battalion | Address | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine 7 | Squad 7 | Utility 1 | Battalion 1 | 864 N. San Vicente Blvd. | West Hollywood | |
| Engine 8, Engine 208 | Light Force 8 | Squad 8 | 7643 Santa Monica Blvd. | West Hollywood | ||
| Engine 38 | 3907 W. 54th St. | Windsor Hills | ||||
| Engine 51 | Squad 51 | Patrol 51 | 3900 Lankershim Blvd. | Universal City | ||
| Engine 58 | Squad 58 | 5757 S. Fairfax Ave. | Baldwin Hills | |||
| Engine 110 | Quint 110 | Boat 110, Boat 310 | 4433 Admiralty Way | Marina Del Ray |
- Battalion 5
| Engine Company | Quint/Light Force Company | Squad | Special Unit | Battalion | Address | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine 65 | Patrol 65 | 4206 Cornell Rd. | Agoura | |||
| Engine 67 | Patrol 67 | 25801 Piuma Rd. | Monte Nido | |||
| Engine 68 | Squad 68 | 24130 Calabasas Rd. | Calabasas | |||
| Engine 69, Engine 269 | Patrol 69 | 401 S. Topanga Canyon Blvd. | Topanga | |||
| Engine 70 | Patrol 70, Water Tender 70, Utility 5, USAR Trailer 70 | Battalion 5, Assistant 7 | 3970 Carbon Canyon Rd. | Malibu | ||
| Engine 71 | Squad 71 | Patrol 71 | 28722 Pacific Coast Hwy. | Malibu | ||
| Engine 72 | Patrol 72 | 1812 Decker Canyon Rd. | Malibu | |||
| Engine 88(Telesquirt) | Squad 88 | 23720 W. Malibu Rd. | Malibu | |||
| Engine 89 | Squad 89 | 29575 Canwood St. | Agoura Hills | |||
| Engine 99 | Patrol 99 | 32550 Pacific Coast Hwy. | Malibu | |||
| Engine 125 | Quint 125 | 5215 N. Las Virgenes Rd. | Calabasas | |||
| Engine 144 | Patrol 144, Water Tender 144 | 31981 Foxfield Dr. | Westlake Village |
Lifeguard Division [edit]
The Los Angeles County Lifeguards are an entity within the Los Angeles County Fire Department, serving the 72 mile coastline that Los Angeles County shares with the Pacific Ocean. Operating with 132 year-round lifeguards and 650 seasonal lifeguards, they staff 178 lifeguard stations and towers. The lifeguards are EMT trained. The Lifeguard Division is led by Chief Lifeguard Michael Frazer.
The lifeguard service has recently begun to utilize a fleet of modified Ford Escape Hybrids, as response vehicles.
East Regional Operations Bureau [edit]
Currently commanded by a Deputy Chief and commands a total of 4 Divisions.
Division 2 [edit]
Division 2 commands a total of 2 Battalions, 16 Fire Stations, and 1 Camp.
- Battalion 2
- Battalion 16
- Azusa - 32, 97
- Baldwin Park - 29 (Animal Style)
- Covina 152, 153, 154 (Battalion HQ)
- Duarte - 44
- Irwindale - 48
- Camp 19
Division 4 [edit]
Division 4 commands a total of 3 Battalions and 25 Fire Stations.
- Battalion 8
- Pico Rivera - 25, 40, 103
- Whittier - 17, 28 (Battalion HQ), 59, 96
- Battalion 9
- Bellflower - 23, 98
- Cerritos - 30 (Battalion HQ) & (Division HQ)
- Hawaiian Gardens - 34
- Lakewood - 45, 94, 122
- Paramount - 31
- Signal Hill - 60
- Battalion 21
- Cerritos - 35
- La Habra - 191, 192, 193, 194
- La Mirada - 49 (Battalion HQ)
- Norwalk - 20, 115
- Whittier - 15
Division 8 [edit]
Division 8 commands a total of 3 Battalions and 20 Fire Stations.
- Battalion 12
- Hacienda Heights - 91
- Industry - 43, 87, 118 (Division HQ)
- La Puente - 26
- Rowland Heights - 145 (Battalion HQ)
- Battalion 15
- Pomona - 181 (Battalion HQ), 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 188, 189 (during LACo Fair)
- Battalion 19
- Diamond Bar - 120 (Battalion HQ), 121
- Pomona - 187
- Walnut - 61, 146
- Rowland Heights - 119 (Has Walnut mailing address)
Division 9 [edit]
Division 9 commands a total of 2 Battalions and 16 Fire Stations.
- Battalion 3
- Battalion 10
- El Monte - 166 (Battalion HQ), 167, 168, 169
- South El Monte - 90
- Rosemead - 4, 42
- San Gabriel - 5
- Temple City - 47
Special Services Bureau [edit]
Currently commanded by Deputy Chief Mark J. Bennett, this bureau oversees the 4 Divisions that provide support to the operations side of the department, Command and Control, Fleet Services, Construction and Maintenance and Information Management.
Business Operations [edit]
The Los Angeles County Fire Department's Business Operations are currently commanded by Chief Deputy Ron Watson, and contains three bureaus: The Prevention Services Bureau(Forestry, Health HazMat, and Fire Prevention Divisions); Administrative Services Bureau (Human Resources, Orgaizational Development, Materials Management, and the Financial Management Divisions); Special Services Bureau (Command and Control, Fleet Services, Construction and Maintenance, and the Information Management Divisions); the Employee Relations Division and Professional Performance Section, are also under the Business Operations Chief Deputy .
Headquarters [edit]
The Los Angeles County Fire Department has its headquarters complex in an unincorporated portion of East Los Angeles, California.[4]
The department operates its headquarters complex, including the "Klinger Center" in unincorporated East Los Angeles.[5][6]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "Assessor". County of Los Angeles Annual Report 2009-2010. Public Affairs, Chief Executive Office. p. 80. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- ^ Los Angeles County Fire Department - Air & Wildland - Fire Camps - Who We Are
- ^ http://fire.lacounty.gov/AirWildland/AirOpsWhoWeAre.asp
- ^ "Fire Reports". Los Angeles County Fire Department. Retrieved on March 12, 2010.
- ^ "New Headquarters Facility Planned." On The Line. Los Angeles County Fire Department. (northern hemisphere) Winter 2006. 3 (3/20). Retrieved on March 12, 2010.
- ^ "Bulletin No. 390-04." Los Angeles County Fire Department. February 2, 2007. Retrieved on March 12, 2010.
External links [edit]
- Los Angeles County Fire Department
- County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association
- Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014
