Los Angeles City Fire Department
| Los Angeles Fire Department |
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| Established | 1886 |
| Staffing | Career |
| Strength | 3,594 uniformed 346 non-sworn support |
| Stations | 106 |
| Engines | 149 |
| Trucks | 47 |
| Squads | 4 |
| Helicopters | 7 |
| Fireboats | 5 |
| EMS Units | 134 |
| EMS Level | ALS & BLS |
| Fire chief | Brian Cummings |
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Los Angeles. It may be unofficially referred to as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The LAFD responded to 444,325 incidents during 2010, with more than 80% being for emergency medical services.
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[edit] History
LAFD has it origins in the year 1871. In September of that year, George M. Fall, the County Clerk for Los Angeles County organized Engine Company No. 1. It was a volunteer firefighting force with an Amoskeag fire engine and a hose jumper (cart). The equipment was hand-drawn to fires. In the spring of 1874, the fire company asked the Los Angeles City Council to purchase horses to pull the engine. The Council refused and the fire company disbanded.[1]
Many of the former members of Engine Company No. 1 reorganized under the name of Thirty-Eights-No.1 In May 1875, Engine Co. No. 2 was organized under the name Confidence Engine Company.[1]
Los Angeles acquired its first "hook and ladder" truck for the Thirty-Eight's. It proved to be too cumbersome and was ill-adapted to the needs of the city. It was sold to the city of Wilmington. In 1876, another "hook and ladder" truck was purchased, serving in the city until 1881.[1]
In 1878, a third fire company was formed by the residents in the neighborhood of Sixth Street and Park. It was given the name of "Park Hose Co.No.1." East Los Angeles formed a hose company named "East Los Angeles Hose Co.No.2" five years later. The final volunteer company was formed in the fall of 1883 in the Morris Vineyard area. This company was called "Morris Vineyard Hose Co.No.3."[1]
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All of these companies remained in service until February 1, 1886, when the present paid fire department came into existence.[1]
In 1877, the first horses were bought for the city fire department. The department would continue to use horses for its equipment for almost fifty years, phasing out the last horse drawn equipment on July 19, 1921.[2]
When the Los Angeles Fire Department was formed in 1886, it had 4 fire stations, two steam fire engines, two hose reels, a hose wagon, a 65' aerial ladder truck, 31 paid firefighters, 24 reserve firefighters and 11 horses to protect 30 square miles (77 km²) and a population of 50,000.
By 1900, the Department had grown to 18 fire stations with 123 full-time paid firefighters and 80 fire horses.[2] The city had also installed 194 fire-alarm boxes allowing citizens to sound the alarm if a fire was spotted. 660 fire hydrants were placed throughout the city, giving firefighters access to a reliable water source.[3]
In 1911, the Department had 32 fire stations. In this year, the last of the fire houses specifically for fire horses were built. The department now had 163 horses. In this year, the department purchased its first single-piece auto pumper and hose-carrying apparatus - Engine 26.
In 1955 Station 78 in Studio City became the first racially integrated station in the Department.[4]
In 2007, LAFD had nearly 3,600 uniformed personnel operating from 106 fire stations who offer fire prevention, firefighting, emergency medical care, technical rescue, hazardous materials mitigation, disaster response, public education and community service to a resident population of more than 4 million people who live in the agency's 471 square mile (1,220 km²) jurisdiction.[5]
In 2011, KNBC reported that the Venice Beach LAFD Engine 263 fire truck had been used in a pornography production. The Venice department truck had been parked in disabled parking spaces and showed actual LAFD firefighters in the background. The Hollywood Station 41 was revealed to have used a fire truck in another production. A spokesman stated these productions were "not one of our proudest moments".[6][7] The firemen were not charged or cited for appearing in the Venice porn film, since the event was more than two years old. The Los Angeles Times described this exemption as a loophole.[8][9]
Near the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, up to fifty arsons exhausted the fire department. It was the worst arson in Los Angeles for 20 years.
[edit] Fire Chiefs
- Walter S. Moore (1886–1887)
- Thomas Strohm (1887–1888)
- Dan A. Moriarty (1888–1889)
- Thomas Strohm (1889–1891)
- Walter S. Moore (1891–1893)
- Michael Curran (1893 - 1893)
- Dan A. Moriarty (1893–1895)
- Walter S. Moore (1895–1900)
- Thomas Strohm (1900–1905)
- Walter Lips (1905–1910)
- Archibald J. Eley (1910–1919)
- R.J. Scott (1919–1940) [currently the longest in LAFD history][10]
- John H. Alderson (1940–1955)
- Frank H. Rothermel (1955–1956) (Emergency Appointment)
- William L. Miller (1956–1965)
- Raymond M. Hill (1966–1975)
- Kenneth R. Long (1975–1977)
- John C. Gerard (1977–1982)
- Donald O. Manning (1983–1995)
- William R. Bamattre (1996–2007)
- Douglas R. Barry (2007–2009)
- Millage Peaks (2009–2011)
- Brian Cummings (2011–Present)
[edit] Fire Stations
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101,110,111,112
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[edit] Proposed Station(s)
- 82: North Hollywood area (Replacement)
[edit] Closed Stations
- 22: Coliseum Area - 4366 S. Main St (Open in 10/26/1948 and closed in 01/22/1980)
- 30: Industrial Eastside - 1401 S. Central Ave (Open in 1913 and closed in 1980) Now The African American Firefighter Museum
- 31: Coliseum Area - 700 W. Slauson Ave (Open in 1929 and closed in 1971)
- 32: Angeleno Heights - 2930 W. First St [Beverly Boulevard] (Open on February 3, 1915 and closed in 1972)
- 45: Hancock Park - 947 S. Norton Ave (Open in 1924 and closed in 1987)
- 53: Ports O' Call / San Pedro - 438 N. Mesa St (Open in 1951 and closed in 2001)
- 54: Southwest LA / Hyde Park - 5730 Angeles Mesa Dr. [Crenshaw Blvd] (Open in 1924 and closed in 1989)
[edit] Fireboats
The Port of Los Angeles is under the jurisdiction of the LAFD which operates 5 fireboats to provide fire protection for ships and dockside structures.
Fireboat No. 4, the Bethel F. Gifford, is the oldest of the fleet, was commissioned in 1962. It is capable of pumping water at 9,000 US gallons per minute (0.568 m3/s) and carries 550 US gallons (2,082 L) of foam solution for petrochemical fires. It is equipped with jet-stream nozzles to allow for increased maneuverability.[11]
Fireboat #1, #3 and #5 are identical 39-foot-3-inch (12 m) long aluminum fireboats capable of a top-end speed of 29 knots (53.7 km/h; 33.4 mph) while fully loaded. They are equipped with a 2,400 US gallons per minute (0.151 m3/s) pump and a 1,000-US-gallon-per-minute (0.063 m3/s) fire monitor. These fireboats also have a 50-US-gallon (189 L) firefighting foam capacity. These three boats operate as rapid response vessels for a variety of missions including firefighting and rescue, patrol and inspection, emergency medical service, and homeland security patrol.[12]
The newest and most technologically advanced of the fireboats is the 105-foot (32 m) long Fireboat #2, the Warner Lawrence, which has the capability to pump up to 38,000 US gallons per minute (2.397 m3/s) up to 400 feet (121.9 m) in the air. #2 also has an onboard area for treatment and care of rescued persons.[13] The Warner Lawrence came into service in 12 April 2003 replacing the 78-year-old Ralph J. Scott, which is now on display near the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.
[edit] Response Guidelines
When dispatching emergencies, the Los Angeles Fire Department Operations Control Division(OCD) Fire Dispatch uses two main assignment categories when dispatching fire companies: Category "A" Assignment; Category "B" Assignment. A third catgeory, a Category "C" Assignment is only used in special incidents, such as brush fires or aircraft emergencies. If the incident becomes large-scale, more fire companies are added at the discretion of the incident commander. Alarm Levels, such as a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. Alarm are not used per se. Any smaller incident does not receive an assignment category. Any fire where six fire companies or over are operating at the scene is considered a "Greater Alarm Structure Fire". Any fire where over fifteen fire companies are operating at the scene is considered a "Major Emergency Structure Fire".
A Category "A" Assignment is the basic structure fire assignment for fires in single-family residences and small structures. It comprises a Task Force(1 Engine Company, 1 Pump Engine Company, 1 Truck Company), 2 additional Engine Companies(1 for Command Post), 1 Rescue Ambulance, 1 Paramedic Rescue Ambulance, 2 Battalion Chiefs, and 1 EMS Commander. A Category "B" Assignment is the standard structure fire assignment for fires in larger structures than single-family homes, such as high-rises, hospitals, nursing homes, large commercial buildings, warehouses, factories, subway MetroRail stations, etc. It comprises 2 Task Forces(1 Engine Company, 1 Pump Engine Company, 1 Truck Company each), 2 additional Engine Companies(1 for Command Post), 1 Rescue Ambulance, 1 Paramedic Rescue Ambulance, 2 Battalion Chiefs, and 1 EMS Commander. A Squad Company, a Specialized Haz-Mat. Unit is also assigned. Depending on the size and type of incident, additional resources, whether they be Task Forces, Light Forces(1 Pump Engine Company and 1 Truck Company), single Engine Companies, single Truck Companies, Rescue/Paramedic Rescue Ambulances, Squad Companies(originally known as Salvage Companies) or other special units, Battalion Chiefs, Division Chiefs, EMS Commanders, or Arson Units.
- Category "A" Assignment:
- 1 Task Force
- 2 Engines(1 as Command Post Company)
- 1 Rescue Ambulance
- 1 Paramedic Rescue Ambulance
- 2 Battalion Chiefs
- 1 EMS Commander
- Category "B" Assignment:
- 2 Task Forces
- 2 Engines(1 as Command Post Company)
- 1 Rescue Ambulance
- 1 Paramedic Rescue Ambulance
- 1 Squad
- 2 Battalion Chiefs
- 1 EMS Commander
[edit] Task Forces and Light Forces
Task Forces and Light Forces are the main firefighting forces in the Los Angeles Fire Department. Today, a Task Force in the LAFD consists of an Engine Company(known in the LAFD as a "Triple" or "Triple Combination Engine"), a Pump Engine Company, and a Truck Company, all housed together at the same fire station. A Light Force is the same as a Task Force, albeit the Engine Company. A Task Force(or a combination of a Light Force and an Engine Company) responds to structure fires, while a Light Force by itself, responds to smaller incidents, such as a stuck elevator. A Task Force is considered to be made up of two fire companies, or "resources": the Light Force and the Engine, while the Light Force is one company by itself. The Pump Engine Company is usually only staffed by one firefighter when responding in a Task Force Assignment and are considered the "200" series Engines, i.e., at Fire Station 3, the Engine Company is referred to as Engine 3, and the Pump Engine Company is referred to as Engine 203. When responding to incidents, a Task Force is staffed by ten firefighters: five on the Truck Company, four on the Engine Company, and one on the Pump Engine Company. When a Light Force responds to incidents, it is staffed by five members on the Truck Company and two members on the Pump Engine Company, for a total of seven.
Task Forces and Light Forces were concepts originally adopted by the LAFD during the Watts Riots in 1965. The first Task Forces were referred to as Heavy Duty Task Forces, and each comprised an Engine Company, a Wagon Engine Company (2nd Engine), and a Light Force (a Pump Engine Company and a Truck Company). Fire Station 9 was the first fire station in the city to adopt the idea of a Task Force. The Engine Company was referred to as Engine 209, the Wagon as Wagon 9, the Pump as Pump 9, and the Truck as Truck 9. Initially, the Wagon Apparatus at Fire Stations 3 and 9 were assigned either a Snorkel or a small aerial ladder device, making them useful as secondary Truck Companies. Although the idea of the Heavy-Duty Task Force was novel, and were useful, saving many lives, it was short lived due to the fact that it took nearly seventeen members to mann it. Thus, it was cut down to just one Engine Company, the Pump Engine Company, and the Truck Company. Also, staffing was cut.
[edit] Rescue Ambulances
Every firefighter in the LAFD is required to be cross-trained as an EMT. However, because the Los Angeles Fire Department operates the primary Ambulance service in the city of Los Angeles, the firefighters that operate the ambulances, known as Rescue Ambulances(RA), are firefighter paramedics. There are two types of Rescue Ambulances in the LAFD: the Paramedic Ambulance, and the Basic Life Support(BLS) Ambulance, also known as the "800" series Ambulance. Rescue Ambulances are staffed by firefighter paramedics and are Advanced Life Support(ALS) certified. The "800" series Ambulances are Basic Life Support(BLS) certified and are staffed by firefighter EMT's, and have less capabilities than the ALS Ambulances, thus they respond to less significant emergencies. At some fire stations, firefighter EMT's and firefighter paramedics rotate from Rescue Ambulances to fire apparatus, thus that piece of apparatus that a paramedic is riding is considered an "Assessment Company".
[edit] Media depictions
- (1974) Firehouse, starring James Drury.
- (1981–1982) Code Red, starring Lorne Greene
- (1999) Rescue 77
- (2008) Quarantine, LAFD as the "Los Angeles Fire Rescue".
[edit] See also
- Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial, NRHP-listed, located at Old Engine Co. No. 27 in Hollywood
- Fire Station No. 14 (Los Angeles, California), NRHP-listed, historic all-black segregated fire station in South Los Angeles
- Engine House No. 18 (Los Angeles, California), NRHP-listed, Mission Revival fire station built in 1904 in West Adams district
- Fire Station No. 23 (Los Angeles, California), NRHP-listed, built in 1910 in Downtown Los Angeles
- Engine Company No. 28, NRHP-listed fire station in Downtown Los Angeles built in 1912
- Fire Station No. 30, Engine Company No. 30, NRHP-listed, historic all-black segregated fire station and engine company in South Los Angeles
- 'Ralph J. Scott, 100-foot fireboat built in 1925 and attached to the Los Angeles Fire Department, designated as a National Historic Landmark
- Los Angeles County Fire Department
- Louis R. Nowell (1915–2000), Los Angeles City Council member, 1963–77, ex-fire captain
[edit] Gallery
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USAR # 5
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Fire Station # 11
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Old Fire Station # 77
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Old Fire Station # 83
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Fire Station # 84
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Rescue Ambulance 104
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "The Volunteers, 1871 to 1885". Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive. http://www.lafire.com/the_volunteers/volunteers.htm. Retrieved September 5, 2006.
- ^ a b "The Era of the Horses 1886 to 1921". Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive. http://www.lafire.com/stations/fire_stations.htm. Retrieved September 5, 2006.
- ^ "The Era of the Horses 1886 to 1921". Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive. Archived from the original on September 2, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060902000423/http://www.lafire.com/stations/lafd1900.htm. Retrieved September 5, 2006.
- ^ "Los Angeles Ends Jim Crow Fire Department". Jet (Johnson Publishing Company) 7 (10). January 13, 1955. http://books.google.com/books?id=TLIDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA7&dq=%22Studio%20City%22%20History&pg=PA7#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ "About the LAFD". Los Angeles Fire Department. http://www.lafd.org/about.htm. Retrieved February 20, 2007.
- ^ Grover, Joel (22 September 2011). "LA Firefighters Investigated in Porn Scandal". KNBC. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/LA-Firefighters-Investigated-for-Helping-Make-Porn-130318603.html. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ Sewell, Abby (22 September 2011). "LAFD investigates use of city fire trucks in porn films - latimes.com". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/09/lafd-porn-fire-trucks.html. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ Lopez, Robert. "L.A. firefighters won't face discipline in porn-film probe". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/10/la-firefighters-porn-movie.html. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ Grover, Joel (4 October 2011). "Firefighters Won't Be Punished for Porn". KNBC. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Firefighters-Wont-Be-Punished-for-Porn--131100438.html. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ "Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive" (Press release). Los Angeles Fire Department longest Fire Chief. 2003-03-28. http://www.lafire.com/fire_chiefs/1919-RalphScott/RalphScott.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ "Fire Boat No. 4 - BETHEL F. GIFFORD". Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive. http://www.lafire.com/fire_boats/Boat4.htm. Retrieved September 5, 2006.
- ^ "Los Angeles City Fire Boats No. 1, 3 and 5". Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive. http://www.lafire.com/fire_boats/Boat1-3-5-New.htm. Retrieved September 5, 2006.
- ^ "Los Angeles Fire Department New Fireboat Fleet Dedication" (Press release). Los Angeles Fire Department. 2003-03-28. http://www.lafire.com/fire_boats/articles_fireboats/boat2-new_20030412_PressRelease.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-05.
[edit] External links
- Los Angeles Fire Department Home Page
- Map of all LAFD Fire Stations
- Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive
- Los Angeles Fire Department News & Information Web Log
- Los Angeles Fire Department Fireboats
- LAFD Recruiting
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