Single Los Angeles County Fire Department Logo.

About Us

The Los Angeles County Fire Department will be an exemplary organization acclaimed for our national reputation, our regional strength, and our hometown attentiveness as we provide fire protection and life safety services.

Our Mission

The mission of the Los Angeles County Fire Department is to protect lives, the environment, and property by providing prompt, skillful, and cost-effective fire protection and life safety services.

The County of Los Angeles Fire Department has a very rich and unique history, which is full of innovation, and daring accomplishments. From designing the 911 system and initiating a paramedic program in the 1970s to the current day USAR and Homeland Security Sections, our fire department is a leader and a model to fire departments around the world. Our Department’s ability to develop new techniques and equipment to fight fires of all kinds has benefited not only the residents we serve, but the fire service in general, both nationally and internationally.

Our Vision

The Los Angeles County Fire Department will be an exemplary organization acclaimed for our national reputation, our regional strength, and our hometown attentiveness as we provide fire protection and life safety services.

Our Strategic Plan is designed to address short- and long-term challenges. Download our Strategic Plan to view the road map to accomplishing our goals.

Strategic Plan Accomplishments 2015-17

Strategic Plan 2015-17

Strategic Plan 2013-15

Strategic Plan 2012-14

Strategic Plan Accomplishments 2012-13

Strategic Plan 2011-12

Core Values

Caring

Courage

Commitment

Community

Integrity

Teamwork

Our Areas of Expertise

FIREFIGHTING

The Department is responsible for protecting the lives and property of 4.1 million residents living in 1.2 million housing units in 59 cities and all unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. There are nearly 4,800 personnel working within the Department’s emergency and business operations bureaus.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

The Department is committed to providing prompt, clinically skilled and caring medical service to ensure positive outcomes for everyone, every time.

URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE & HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

The Department is home to a variety of world-renowned special urban search and rescue resources and highly skilled team members, including the California Task Force 2 (also known as USA Task Force 2) that is qualified to respond to local, national and international disasters.

Additionally, the Department’s Haz-Mat program is designed to address the natural, technological, or purposeful response challenges, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) threats to our communities and national security.

AIR & WILDLAND

The Department maintains a fleet of ten helicopters for paramedic transport, hoist rescues and wildland firefighting. Contract aircraft are also available during wildfire season. Nine camps are also staffed year-round for fire suppression, fire road maintenance and miscellaneous projects.

LIFEGUARDS

With nearly 800 team members in the Department’s Lifeguard Division, lifeguards are responsible for protecting 72 miles of coastline, including 31 miles of sandy beaches and Catalina Island.

DISPATCH

Nearly 100 dispatchers at the Department’s 9-1-1 Dispatch Center answer nearly 500,000 calls per year and dispatch units to more than 395,000 incidents.

PREVENTION

The Department educates the community about the benefits of proper safety practices and identifies and eliminates all types of hazardous conditions that pose a threat to life, the environment and property.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

The Department enhances emergency preparedness by anticipating catastrophic events and maximizing opportunities to educate and improve community readiness and safety through public education and life-enriching programs.

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