REGIONAL SERVICE
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Reprinted from Local 935 social media
Los Angeles County Fire Department is perhaps the
exemplary all-risk regional service provider for fire,
rescue and EMS. Local 935 values its relationship
with our western neighbor, and with the 4,000-plus
members of Local 1014, who serve over four million
residents across 2300 square miles and respond to
over 350,000 calls per year.
As partners in the California mutual aid system,
the San Bernardino and Los Angeles County
Fire Departments have often worked together
on large fires and incidents over the years.
And, with the 2017 addition of Upland to our
fire family, the jurisdictional border we share
became longer.
One area where the partnership has been in place for some time
is the mountain community of Wrightwood. The town actually
straddles both counties, with much of the emergency call
volume coming during the winter months at Mountain
High ski resort, which actually lies on the L.A. County
side. SBCoFD Fire Station 14, however, is the nearest
fire/EMS service provider. So here the two counties
realize the advantage of a regional approach to fire
service, with Station 14 serving the area on both
sides of the border. In an area where locals and
visitors are vulnerable to wildfire and reside
far from the nearest emergency room,
having the closest responders arrive
trumps jurisdictional boundaries.
Here is a snapshot of what the
members of Local 1014 provide
their county:
172 stations, 32 aerial ladder truck companies,
68 paramedic squads, four Hazmat squads,
two USAR squads, two fire boats, 159
lifeguard towers, eight rescue boats, eight
helicopters, 10 hand crews (paid and
correctional) and 10 dozers.
Our two agencies face remarkably
similar service challenges. From
vast and dense urban populations
to small towns and sparsely
populated—but oft-visited—mountain
and desert recreational areas,
LACoFD and our brethren of Local
1014 provide a regional service
model worthy of attention.
Photos by: Bernie Deyo, Craig Durling, David Gardner, Jeff SImmerman,
LAndon Jensen, Randy Johanson and Tod Sudmeier
REGIONAL SERVICE
IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
36
FIREWIRE • Spring 2018
Spring 2018 • FIREWIRE
37