Los Angeles Fire Department
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"Serving With Courage, Integrity, and Pride" | |
Operational area | |
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Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
County | ![]() |
City | ![]() |
Agency overview[1][2] | |
Established | February 1, 1886 |
Annual calls | 406,088 (2013) |
Employees | 3,574 (2014) |
Annual budget | $565,123,831 (2014) |
Staffing | Career |
Fire chief | Ralph Terrazas |
EMS level | ALS & BLS |
IAFF | 112 |
Facilities and equipment[3][4] | |
Divisions | 2 |
Battalions | 14 |
Stations | 106 |
Engines | 162 |
Trucks | 42 |
Squads | 4 |
Rescues | 1 |
Ambulances | 89 ALS & 34 BLS (24 reserve) |
HAZMAT | 4 |
USAR | 6 |
Airport crash | 8 |
Wildland | 15 - Type 6 |
Bulldozers | 1 |
Helicopters | 6 |
Fireboats | 5 |
Website | |
Official website | |
IAFF website |
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The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD/LA City Fire) provides fire prevention, firefighting, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials to the city of Los Angeles, California, United States.[5] The LAFD is responsible for approximately 4 million people who live in the agency's 471 square miles (1,220 km2) jurisdiction.[6]
The Los Angeles Fire Department is one of the largest municipal fire departments in the United States, after the New York City Fire Department and the Chicago Fire Department. It may be unofficially referred to as the Los Angeles City Fire Department to distinguish it from the Los Angeles County Fire Department which also serves some sections of the city.
Contents
History

The Los Angeles Fire Department has it origins in the year 1871.[7][8][9] 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.[10]
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.[10]
Los Angeles acquired its first "hook and ladder" truck for the Thirty-Eights. 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.[10]
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."[10]
All of these companies remained in service until February 1, 1886, when the present paid fire department came into existence.[10]
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.[11]
By 1900, the Department had grown to 18 fire stations with 123 full-time paid firefighters and 80 fire horses.[11] 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.[12] In 1955 Station 78 in Studio City became the first racially integrated station in the department.[13]
Operations
Helicopters

The Air Operations division of the LAFD operates out of Fire Station 114 at Van Nuys Airport. The division has 6 helicopters available for both aerial firefighting and air medical services. Copter 1 and Copter 4 are both Bell 412s.[14][15] Copter 2, Copter 3 and Copter 5 are all AgustaWestland AW139s.[16][17][18] The final helo, Copter 6, is a Bell 206B.[19]
Light Forces and Task Forces
The LAFD uses the concept of Light Forces and Task Forces which can be considered one "Resource", although comprising more than one unit or company.[20]
A Light Force is composed of a Pump Engine (200 Series, for example Engine 201) and a Ladder Truck.[21] Light forces will almost always respond together as one unit or resource.[20]
A Task Force is simply a Light Force coupled with an Engine. An Engine is considered a single unit or "resource" when responding to incidents on its own.[21] A Task Force usually responds to larger incidents, such as structural fires, and is made up of an Engine, a 200 Series Pump Engine, and a Truck, all operating together. While a standard Engine is always staffed with a full crew, a 200 Series Pump Engine is only staffed by a driver (and one other firefighter if responding as part of a Task Force). The purpose of the 200 Series Pump Engine is to provide support and equipment to the Truck in a Light Force, and either the Truck or the Engine in a Task Force.[20]
Rescue Ambulances

Rescue Ambulances (RAs), often called 'rescues' for short, can be considered either advanced life support (ALS), or basic life support (BLS). Ambulances number 1-112 are frontline ALS staffed by 2 firefighter / paramedics, while those in the 200 series are ALS reserves.[22] Ambulances in the 800s are BLS staffed by 2 firefighter EMT's, while those in the 900s are BLS reserves.[22]
Fireboats
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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.[23] Fireboat 1, Fireboat 3 and Fireboat 5 are identical 39-foot (12 m) long aluminum fireboats capable of a top speed of 29 knots (33 mph; 54 km/h) while fully loaded.[24] They are equipped with a 2,400 US gal/min (9,100 L/min) pump and a 1,000 US gal/min (3,800 L/min) deluge gun.[24] They also have a 50-US-gallon (190 L) firefighting foam capacity.
Fireboat 4, also known as the Bethel F. Gifford, was commissioned in 1962 and is the oldest of the fleet. It is capable of pumping water at 9,000 US gal/min (34,000 L/min) and carries 550 US gallons (2,082 L) of foam solution for petrochemical fires.[25] It is equipped with jet-stream nozzles to allow for increased maneuverability.[25]
The newest and most technologically advanced of the fireboats is the 105-foot (32 m) long Fireboat 2, also known as the Warner Lawrence, which has the capability to pump up to 38,000 US gallons per minute (140,000 L/min) up to 400 feet (120 m) in the air.[26] Boat 2 also has an onboard area for treatment and care of rescued persons.[27]
USAR Task Force 1
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The Los Angeles Fire Department is the founding member of one of California's eight FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force.[28] California Task Force 1 (CA-TF1) is available to respond to natural or man-made disasters around the county and world and assist with search and rescue, medical support, damage assessment and communications.[29]
Stations and apparatus
The LAFD is divided into two operations divisions: The South Division (formerly Division 2), and the North Division (formerly Division 3). Each Division is commanded by an Assistant Chief, who in turn commands a total of 7 Battalions with each battalion led by a battalion chief.[30] The Los Angeles Fire Department currently operates 106 Fire Stations, organized into 14 Battalions
The South Division comprises 7 battalions and 55 fire stations with its headquarters station 3.[31] The North Division also has 7 battalions with 51 stations with its headquarters at station 88.[31] Below is a list of the apparatus and stations of the LAFD.[32]
Note that stations with both a truck and a 200 series engine (pumper) will usually respond the two apparatus together as a lightforce. So, for example, Truck 1 and Engine 201 will often respond together as Light Force 1.[21]
Neighborhood(s) | Engine | Pumper | Truck | EMS | Command | Special | Batt. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Lincoln Heights | Engine 201 Engine 401 |
Truck 1 | Rescue 1 Rescue 801 | 2 | |||
2 | Boyle Heights | Engine 2 | Engine 202 | Truck 2 | Rescue 2 | 1 | ||
3 | Civic Center & Bunker Hill |
Engine 3 | Engine 203 | Truck 3 | Rescue 3 Rescue 803 |
Command 22 Command Van |
USAR 3 Light Unit Medical Trailer |
1 |
4 | Chinatown | Engine 4 | Rescue 4 Rescue 804 |
Battalion 1 EMS 1 |
1 | |||
5 | Westchester | Engine 5 | Engine 205 | Truck 5 | Rescue 5 | Battalion 4 | USAR 5 | 4 |
6 | Angeleno Heights | Engine 6 | Rescue 6 | 11 | ||||
7 | Arleta | Engine 7 | Rescue 7 | 12 | ||||
8 | Porter Ranch | Engine 8 | Brush Patrol 8 | 15 | ||||
9 | Skid Row | Engine 9 | Engine 409 | Truck 9 | Rescue 9 Rescue 209 Rescue 809 Rescue 900 |
1 | ||
10 | Convention Center | Engine 10 | Engine 210 | Truck 10 | Rescue 10 Rescue 810 |
1 | ||
11 | Westlake & MacArthur Park |
Engine 11 | Engine 211 | Truck 11 | Rescue 11 Rescue 811 |
11 | ||
12 | Highland Park | Engine 12 | Engine 212 | Truck 12 | Rescue 12 | 2 | ||
13 | Pico-Union | Engine 13 | Rescue 13 | Battalion 11 EMS 11 |
11 | |||
14 | Newton | Engine 14 | Rescue 14 Rescue 814 |
1 | ||||
15 | USC/Exposition Park | Engine 15 | Engine 215 | Truck 15 | Rescue 15 | 11 | ||
16 | South El Sereno | Engine 16 | Rescue 16 | 2 | ||||
17 | Industrial Eastside | Engine 17 | Rescue 17 | Foam Tender 17 HazMat Tender |
1 | |||
18 | Knollwood | Engine 18 | Rescue 18 | 15 | ||||
19 | Brentwood | Engine 19 | Rescue 19 | Brush Patrol 19 | 9 | |||
20 | Echo Park | Engine 220 Engine 420 |
Truck 20 | Rescue 20 Rescue 820 |
Fast Response 1 | 11 | ||
21 | South Los Angeles | Engine 21 | Engine 221 | Truck 21 | Rescue 21 Rescue 821 |
Squad 21 HazMat | 13 | |
23 | Palisades Highlands | Engine 23 | Rescue 23 | Brush Patrol 23 | 9 | |||
24 | Sunland | Engine 24 | Brush Patrol 24 | 12 | ||||
25 | Boyle Heights | Engine 25 | Rescue 25 | Tunnel Rescue 25 Arson Unit |
1 | |||
26 | West Adams | Engine 26 | Engine 226 | Truck 26 | Rescue 26 Rescue 826 |
11 | ||
27 | Hollywood | Engine 27 | Engine 227 | Truck 27 | Rescue 27 Rescue 827 Rescue 927 |
Battalion 5 | USAR 27 | 5 |
28 | Porter Ranch | Engine 28 | Rescue 828 | Brush Patrol 28 | 15 | |||
29 | Hancock Park | Engine 29 | Engine 229 | Truck 29 | Rescue 29 Rescue 829 |
Decon Unit | 11 | |
33 | South Central | Engine 33 | Engine 233 | Truck 33 | Rescue 33 Rescue 833 |
Battalion 13 EMS 13 |
13 | |
34 | Crenshaw & Leimert Park | Engine 34 | Rescue 34 Rescue 834 |
18 | ||||
35 | Los Feliz | Engine 35 | Engine 235 | Truck 35 | Rescue 35 Rescue 835 |
Brush Patrol 35 | 5 | |
36 | San Pedro | Engine 36 | Rescue 36 | Foam Tender 36 | 6 | |||
37 | Westwood UCLA |
Engine 37 | Engine 237 | Truck 37 | Rescue 37 Rescue 837 |
Battalion 9 | 9 | |
38 | Wilmington | Engine 38 | Rescue 38 | Tender 38, HazMat | 6 | |||
39 | Van Nuys | Engine 39 | Engine 239 | Truck 39 | Rescue 39 Rescue 839 |
Battalion 10 | 10 | |
40 | Terminal Island | Engine 40 | Rehab/Air Tender | 6 | ||||
41 | Hollywood Hills | Engine 41 | Rescue 41 | Brush Patrol 41 | 5 | |||
42 | Eagle Rock | Engine 42 | 2 | |||||
43 | Palms | Engine 43 | Engine 443 | Rescue 43 | 18 | |||
44 | Cypress Park | Engine 44 | Rescue 844 | Brush Patrol 44, Swift Water Rescue 44 | 2 | |||
46 | Coliseum Area | Engine 46 | Rescue 46 Rescue 246 Rescue 846 |
13 | ||||
47 | El Sereno | Engine 47 | Rescue 47 | Brush Patrol 47 | 2 | |||
48 | San Pedro | Engine 48 | Engine 248 | Truck 48 | Rescue 48 Rescue 848 |
Squad 48 HazMat | 6 | |
49 | East Harbor | Engine 49 | Rescue 49 Rescue 849 Rescue 649 |
Battalion 6 | Fireboat 3, Fireboat 4 | 6 | ||
50 | Atwater Village | Engine 250 Engine 450 |
Truck 50 | Rescue 850 | 2 | |||
51 | LAX | Engine 51 | Rescue 51 | 4 | ||||
52 | Hollywood | Engine 52 | Rescue 52 | 5 | ||||
55 | Eagle Rock | Engine 55 | Rescue 55 | Battalion 2 | 2 | |||
56 | Silver Lake | Engine 56 | Rescue 56 | Heavy Rescue 56 | 5 | |||
57 | South Central | Engine 57 | Rescue 57 Rescue 257 Rescue 857 |
13 | ||||
58 | Pico-Robertson | Engine 58 | Engine 458 | Rescue 58 Rescue 858 |
18 | |||
59 | West Los Angeles | Engine 59 | Rescue 59 | EMS 9 | Rehab/Air Tender 59 Hydration Unit |
9 | ||
60 | North Hollywood | Engine 60 | Engine 260 | Truck 60 | Rescue 60 Rescue 860 |
Foam Tender 60 | 14 | |
61 | Fairfax | Engine 61 | Engine 261 | Truck 61 | Rescue 61 Rescue 861 |
18 | ||
62 | Mar Vista | Engine 62 | Rescue 62 | 4 | ||||
63 | Venice | Engine 63 | Engine 263 | Truck 63 | Rescue 63 | 4 | ||
64 | South Los Angeles | Engine 64 | Engine 264 | Truck 64 | Rescue 64 Rescue 264 Rescue 864 |
13 | ||
65 | Watts | Engine 65 | Rescue 65 Rescue 865 |
13 | ||||
66 | South Los Angeles | Engine 66 | Engine 266 | Truck 66 | Rescue 66 Rescue 266 Rescue 866 |
Div 2 Command | 13 | |
67 | Playa Vista | Engine 67 | Rescue 867 | 4 | ||||
68 | Mid-City | Engine 68 | Rescue 68 | Battalion 18 | 18 | |||
69 | Pacific Palisades | Engine 269 Engine 469 |
Truck 69 | Rescue 69 Rescue 869 |
9 | |||
70 | Northridge | Engine 70 | Rescue 70 | Battalion 15 EMS 15 |
15 | |||
71 | Bel Air | Engine 71 | Rescue 71 | 9 | ||||
72 | Canoga Park | Engine 72 | Engine 472 | Rescue 72 Rescue 872 |
17 | |||
73 | Reseda | Engine 273 Engine 473 |
Truck 73 | Rescue 73 Rescue 873 |
17 | |||
74 | Sunland-Tujunga | Engine 274 Engine 474 |
Truck 74 | Rescue 74 Rescue 874 |
Brush Patrol 74 | 12 | ||
75 | Mission Hills | Engine 275 Engine 475 |
Truck 75 | Rescue 75 Rescue 875 |
12 | |||
76 | Cahuenga Pass | Engine 76 | Rescue 76 | 5 | ||||
77 | Sun Valley | Engine 77 | Rescue 77 | Water Tender 77 | 12 | |||
78 | Studio City | Engine 278 | Truck 78 | Rescue 78 Rescue 878 |
Brush Patrol 78 | 14 | ||
79 | Harbor Gateway | Engine 79 | Rescue 79 | 6 | ||||
80 | LAX | Crash 80 ARFF 180 ARFF 280 ARFF 380 Stair 80 |
4 | |||||
81 | Panorama City | Engine 81 | Engine 481 | Rescue 81 Rescue 881 |
Command Unit | 10 | ||
82 | Hollywood | Engine 82 | Rescue 82 | Command 52 | 5 | |||
83 | Encino | Engine 83 | Rescue 83 | Light Unit, Rehab/Air Tender | 10 | |||
84 | Woodland Hills | Engine 84 | Rescue 84 | Battalion 17 EMS 17 |
Brush Patrol 84 | 17 | ||
85 | Harbor City | Engine 85 | Engine 285 | Truck 85 | Rescue 85 | Medical Supply Light Unit USAR 85 |
6 | |
86 | Toluca Lake | Engine 86 | Rescue 86 | 14 | ||||
87 | Granada Hills | Engine 87 | Engine 287 | Truck 87 | Rescue 87 | Squad 87 HazMat Hazmat Tender |
15 | |
88 | Sherman Oaks | Engine 88 | Engine 288 | Truck 88 | Rescue 88 | Command 42 | Water Tender 88 USAR 88 Swift Water Rescue 88 |
10 |
89 | North Hollywood | Engine 89 | Engine 289 Engine 489 |
Truck 89 | Rescue 89 Rescue 889 |
Medical Supply USAR 89 Hydration Unit |
14 | |
90 | Van Nuys Airport | Engine 90 | Engine 290 | Truck 90 | Rescue 90 Rescue 890 |
Fuel Tender 1 Fuel Tender 2 |
10 | |
91 | Sylmar | Engine 91 | Rescue 91 | Fast Response 401 | 12 | |||
92 | Century City | Engine 292 | Truck 92 | Rescue 92 Rescue 892 |
9 | |||
93 | Tarzana | Engine 93 | Engine 293 | Truck 93 | Rescue 93 | 17 | ||
94 | Crenshaw/Baldwin Hills | Engine 94 | Engine 294 | Truck 94 | Rescue 94 Rescue 894 |
Brush Patrol 94 | 18 | |
95 | LAX | Engine 95 | Engine 295 | Truck 95 | Rescue 95 | Squad 95 HazMat | 4 | |
96 | Chatsworth | Engine 296 Engine 496 |
Truck 96 | Rescue 96 Rescue 896 |
15 | |||
97 | Laurel Canyon | Engine 97 | Rescue 97 | 14 | ||||
98 | Pacoima | Engine 98 | Engine 298 | Truck 98 | Rescue 98 Rescue 898 |
12 | ||
99 | Beverly Glen | Engine 99 | Rescue 99 | Brush Patrol 99 | 10 | |||
100 | Lake Balboa | Engine 100 | Rescue 100 | Foam Tender 100 | 10 | |||
101 | San Pedro | Engine 101 | Rescue 101 | 6 | ||||
102 | Valley Glen | Engine 102 | Rescue 102 | 14 | ||||
103 | CSU Northridge | Engine 103 | Rescue 903 | 15 | ||||
104 | Winnetka | Engine 104 | Rescue 104 | 17 | ||||
105 | Woodland Hills | Engine 105 | Engine 305 | Truck 105 | Rescue 105 | 17 | ||
106 | West Hills | Engine 106 | Rescue 106 | 17 | ||||
107 | Chatsworth | Engine 107 | Rescue 107 | 15 | ||||
108 | Franklin Canyon Park | Engine 108 | 14 | |||||
109 | Encino Hills | Engine 109 | Rescue 909 | Brush Patrol 109 | 10 | |||
110 | Fort MacArthur | Fireboat 5 | 6 | |||||
111 | Port of Los Angeles | Fireboat 1 | 6 | |||||
112 | Port of Los Angeles | Engine 112 | Rescue 112 | Fireboat 2 |
6 | |||
114 | Van Nuys Airport | Crash 114, Foam 114 Copters 1-6 |
10 |
In pop culture
- (1974) Firehouse, starring James Drury
- (1981–1982) Code Red, starring Lorne Greene
- (1999) Rescue 77
- (2008) Quarantine, LAFD as the "Los Angeles Fire Rescue".
- (2015) San Andreas
See also
- Engine Company No. 28
- Engine House No. 18 (Los Angeles, California)
- Fire Station No. 14 (Los Angeles, California)
- Fire Station No. 23 (Los Angeles, California)
- Fire Station No. 30, Engine Company No. 30
- Los Angeles Fire Department Museum and Memorial
- Louis R. Nowell, fire captain who became a City Council member
- Ralph J. Scott, formerly known as Fireboat #2
- The Stentorians Fire Station No.46
References
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Los Angeles Fire Department. |
- Map of all LAFD Fire Stations
- Los Angeles Fire Department Historical Archive
- Los Angeles Fire Department News & Information Web Log
- LAFD Recruiting
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