Los Angeles County Fire Department

History

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 1970s 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.

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.

Fire suppression camps

The LACoFD has 10 fire camps with handcrews which are used for both fire prevention and wildland firefighting. In 2013, Los Angeles County signed an agreement to send over 500 nonviolent inmates to firefighting camps in mountain and foothill areas. While there, the inmates were trained to clear flood control basins and fight fires. The camps are run in conjunction with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

Rank structure

• Firefighter Trainee (FFT)
• Firefighter/EMT (FF)
• Firefighter/Paramedic (FFPM) or (FP)
• Firefighter Specialist (FFS)
• Fire Captain (FC)
• Battalion Chief (BC)
• Assistant Chief (AC)
• Deputy Chief (DC)
• Chief Deputy (CD)
• Fire Chief (FC)
• Assistant Fire Commissioner (AFC)
• Commissioner (C)

Apparatus

The Los Angeles County Fire Department utilizes a wide array of firefighting apparatus, including engines, quints, trucks, light forces (engine + quint or truck), patrol units, and water tenders. Support apparatus include rescue squads, hazardous materials squads, and urban search and rescue squads.

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. 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

The LA County Fire Department has 10 helicopters available for aerial firefighting. 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 1000 USgal tanks.
• One Bell 412 Copter 12 is fitted with a 360 USgal tank.
• Two Bell 412EP Copter 11 and Copter 14 are outfitted with 360 USgal tanks.
• Two Bell 412HP Copter 17 and Copter 18 are outfitted with 360 USgal tanks.

Stations and apparatus

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Some Stations have 2 engines. Engines with a 4+station number are cross-staffed Type 3 wildland engines. Units marked “Medic” are full medic/ALS units (two paramedics on board). Units marked “PAU” are paramedic assessment units (one paramedic on board).

As of March 2022, Rosenbauer America announced a new contract to produce 11 tractor drawn aerial ladder trucks for the LA County Fire Department. The order also sees manufacturing an unknown amount of engines for the department.

As of March 2025, The LA County Fire Department conducted a three day long familiarization program of two Rosenbauer TDAs that were delivered. The program included inspections, testing, and training with over 100 LACoFD personnel including 30 mechanics and 75 firefighters.

As of June 2025, Rosenbauer America announced that the LACoFD has received a delivery of 11 tractor drawn aerial quints, and 8 custom pumper trucks.

Pierce Manufacturing also announced 8 custom built pumper trucks to be delivered to the LA County Fire Department.