"I only looked away for a few seconds..."

That's what firefighters have heard from heartbroken parents whose children tragically drowned in their own backyard swimming pool.  As the summer heat rises, it's a good time to make sure that your pool is secure at all times.  Read our Pool Safety Checklist and Drowning Prevention Tips to learn more.

Fire Season is Here Again! Do you have a plan?
Click Here.

Need a Brush Clearance Vendor?

Click HERE for a list of vendors available throughout the County of Los Angeles

FIREFIGHTERS TELL THEIR OWN STORIES!

In Their Own Words!

Be there on the front line, living the real life stories, from the men and women who lived them... in their own words.

This website is best viewed in Internet Explorer 6 or higher.

Dear Residents,

Greetings to you and your household from all of us here at your Los Angeles County Fire Department. As you may know, your property may be situated in a very high fire hazard severity zone because it is so close to flammable vegetation. The next couple of months will still prove to be a dangerous time of year for destructive wildland fires as grasses cure and existing vegetation continue to dry through the arid summer season. Many areas of Los Angeles County received normal to below normal annual rainfall during the 2005-2006 rain season.

Consequently, we are experiencing normal growth in fine fuels, such as grasses, which are vulnerable to wildland fire. The increase in fine fuel volume created by last year’s high rainfall combined with this new growth have resulted in forming continuous fine fuel beds throughout the desert, valleys, and foothill areas. Continuous fine fuel beds promote quick ignition, rapid rates of spread and large fire development.

We still need your assistance in creating and maintaining defensible space to protect your home and your family. Required clearance of native vegetation and properly maintained ornamental vegetation is the first line of defense against wildland fires. Your conscientious efforts to comply with Fire Department requirements greatly reduce the chances of fire spreading onto your property and reaching your home. Recent fire experience shows that, with proper clearance, your home will have a better chance of surviving a wind-driven firestorm.

We also need your help should it be necessary to evacuate your family during a brush fire. Please be aware that failure to evacuate all persons and pets from your property when advised to do so during a wildland fire creates an extreme risk to you, your family and firefighters working to save your property.

Thank you for your cooperation and attention to conditions in your neighborhood. To further assist you, we have provided links below with some helpful information regarding brush clearance and evacuations. We urge you to review this information carefully and take action to prepare your family and your property now.

If you have questions please contact your local fire station or call the Los Angeles County Fire Department at (323) 881-2411.

Sincerely,

Chief Freeman's Biography | Creating a Home Evacuation Plan | Brush Clearance Tips