When you see a Los Angeles County fire engine wheeling at full speed with lights and sirens, have you ever wondered who keeps the engine in tip top condition? When you drive past a fire station, have you ever wondered who maintains this firefighter “home away from home,” where firefighters live and work together for 24 hours at a time? When you receive your property tax bill in the mail and view the line earmarked for fire protection services, have you ever thought about what exactly you are paying for each year?

While 3,000 Los Angeles County firefighters, lifeguards and other emergency responders comprise three-fourths of the Fire Department’s workforce and are the most visible employees at the community level, they are supported in their mission each day by almost 1,000 civilian members in a multitude of professions. From fire equipment and helicopter mechanics to dispatchers, computer engineers, accountants, legislative analysts, photographers, truck drivers and a host of administrative support staff, the Department provides a talented team of experts who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

To help you understand their important roles and functions, we have created this as part of the “Behind the Scenes” section of the Department’s new website. Next time you drive past a station or see one of the County’s shiny red rigs on the evening news, you’ll know who keeps it rolling down the roads of Los Angeles County.