What communities does L.A. County Fire serve?

Through its network of neighborhood fire stations, L.A. County Fire provides 24-hour 911 emergency response, including fire and paramedic services to L.A. County residents in 58 cities and all unincorporated areas. Our service area maps are listed as downloads below.

What type of services do the majority of 911 calls require?

The vast majority of 911 calls received by L.A. County Fire are for medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes and car accidents, and the demand is growing. The Department has seen a 50% increase in these types of calls over the last ten years.

L.A. County Fire's local firefighters and paramedics work hard to maintain our safety and quality of life by responding to medical emergencies as well as fires, floods, earthquakes and other disasters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What challenges is L.A. County Fire facing for the future?

As we strive to maintain rapid emergency response with growing demand, we face several challenges. Additional resources are needed to ensure that we have enough firefighter/paramedics on-duty around the clock. During a medical emergency, house fire or natural disaster, every second is critical to saving lives. Yet, over the last decade, L.A. County Fire has seen an increase of over 50% in emergency medical incidents, but less than a 5% increase in paramedic squads.

L.A. County Fire's communications systems date back nearly three decades and are incompatible with wireless networks and other modern digital systems. Due to lack of funds, firefighters and paramedics are forced to use radios and communications equipment that is old, outdated and unreliable due to changing technology.

Paramedics need to be able to communicate directly with emergency rooms and trauma centers to provide critical information when transporting patients -- especially vulnerable people, like seniors or children. Firefighters must be able to communicate reliably amongst each other to coordinate fast and effective emergency response services when fighting fires. They must be able to provide the public with information quickly, even when cell towers go down during a fire or natural disaster, including when it is time to evacuate.

How will L.A. County Fire address these challenges?

Through a comprehensive needs assessment, L.A. County Fire has identified several critical upgrades required to maintain emergency response services into the future. Additional resources could enable L.A. County Fire to:

· Increase the number of firefighter/paramedics on duty

· Ensure local firefighters have the vehicles, aircraft, facilities and equipment to effectively fight house fires and wildfires

· Provide emergency tools (like Jaws of Life) to rescue trapped car accident victims, replace defibrillators and other emergency medical response equipment and provide emergency medication to treat life-threatening allergic reactions and drug overdoses

· Replace old breathing devices, protective clothing and equipment used by firefighters

· Provide firefighters with thermal image cameras to locate and rescue small children who often hide during fires, and help the elderly and people with disabilities who cannot escape on their own

· Repair or replace fire stations to accommodate necessary equipment and vehicles

· Provide real-time mapping software and other advanced technology when responding to 911 emergencies and upgrade 911 dispatch center computer technology to improve response times.

Because of the increasing demand for emergency services and increased wildfire risks, L.A. County Fire has proposed Measure FD -- a local parcel tax to provide additional funding to continue rapid firefighter/paramedic response times and prepare for future disasters. This measure will appear on the March 3, 2020 ballot, and will require a 2/3rds vote (66.67%) to pass.

What would Measure FD do?

If approved by local voters, Measure FD would authorize L.A. County Fire to levy a tax of 6 cents/square foot of structural improvements on all taxable improved parcels (including business and residential properties), up to 100,000 square feet, excluding the square footage of improvements used for parking, limited to 2% annual inflation adjustment, generating $134 million per year, to hire more firefighters and paramedics, replace and upgrade outdated emergency communications systems and old rescue vehicles and equipment.

Specifically, additional funds would:

· Increase the number of firefighter/paramedics on duty

· Upgrade outdated equipment and vehicles to effectively fight house fires and fast-moving extreme wildfires

· Communicate directly with emergency rooms and trauma centers to provide critical information when transporting patients -- especially vulnerable people, like seniors or children

· Communicate reliably to coordinate fast, effective emergency response -- including when it is time to evacuate

· Provide emergency tools (like Jaws of Life) to rescue trapped car accident victims, replace defibrillators and other emergency medical response equipment and provide emergency medication

· Replace old breathing devices, protective clothing and equipment used by firefighters

· Provide firefighters with thermal image cameras to locate and rescue vulnerable citizens unable to evacuate on their own

· Provide real-time mapping software and other advanced technology and upgrade 911 dispatch center computer technology to improve response times

How much will it cost?

At 6 cents/square foot of property improvements, a typical 1,500 square foot home would be assessed $90 per year.

Are low-income seniors eligible for exemption?

Yes. Should voters approve the measure, low-income senior (age 65+) property owners may apply for exemption.

Are there any fiscal accountability and oversight requirements included?

Yes. Measure FD would require all funds to be spent only to support local fire and emergency response services and reviewed by an Independent Citizens Oversight Committee. Annual expenditure reports would be required and made available at fire stations and public libraries. Additionally, all funds would be subject to annual independent audit.

How are emergency services currently funded in L.A. County?

L.A. County Fire is currently funded through a combination of property tax revenue and contracts for service with 11 of its 58 cities. L.A. County Fire is its own special district and, as such, it does not have access to the General Fund of the County or the 47 cities within the District who pay for fire protection services through property tax revenues. Unfortunately, current revenues are not keeping up with the current demand and increased need for services.

Does L.A. County Fire have a local funding mechanism in place now?

More than 20 years ago, local voters approved funding for 911 emergency response and fire protection, generating approximately $84 million per year to supplement property tax revenues allocated to L.A. County Fire. Over the decades since, the demand for emergency medical services and the need for up-to-date equipment necessitate a renewed look at our commitment to safety.

Can we rely on outside resources to support L.A. County Fire services?

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides some emergency assistance, it is not a reliable source of funding. In a widespread fire or other natural disaster, L.A. County Fire relies on the aid of allied agencies (or "mutual aid") to respond. However, as extreme weather has increased the risk of fires and flooding across the state, L.A. County must be more self-reliant in order to provide early, rapid response to emergencies and disasters.

How is L.A. County Fire working to maximize budget efficiency? What more can be done?

To help address increasing costs within our department and maximize our use of existing funds, L.A. County Fire utilizes a "Zero Based Budgeting" process in which every function within the Department is analyzed for its needs and costs. Any budget inefficiencies identified are eliminated.

We know that replacing outdated vehicles would be more cost efficient than continuing to perform costly repairs on older fire engines and equipment that have outlived their life-expectancy. It would also ensure that sufficient working equipment is available when it's most needed -- when large scale fires or other disasters happen -- instead of sitting in a repair shop.

In addition, the Department is working to continue reducing training expenses by hiring already-certified paramedics to fill the growing demand for medical emergency calls. Finally, increasing the number of firefighter/paramedics to meet the growing need will also improve efficiency and safety by reducing firefighter injuries and lessening the likelihood of getting hurt

What can we learn from the recent wildland fires to prepare for future emergencies?

Recent wildland fires clearly underscore the need for our department to be more self-reliant and for improved emergency communications systems and upgraded equipment. It's clear that these types of fires are now an almost year-round concern. As extreme weather patterns promise to continue to present more severe wildfires and flooding across the state, we cannot always rely on outside resources of allied agencies to help (referred to as "mutual aid").

How is the Department informing residents about the challenges it faces?

L.A. County Fire is providing residents information about the challenges L.A. County Fire is facing, providing factual information about Measure FD, which will appear on the March 3 ballot, and continuing to gather public input to understand residents' priorities and concerns as we plan for the future.

How can the public get more information about Measure FD and/or provide input to L.A. County Fire?

Our local firefighters and L.A. County Fire leaders are available to address local organizations. To request a speaker, contact info@wearelacountyfire.org.