LOS ANGELES — As wildfires rage across Los Angeles, claiming lives and destroying homes, longstanding concerns about firefighter resources and staffing have emerged, adding to already tense debates around increased department funding.
Less than a month before the fires erupted, a group of veteran firefighters gathered at City Hall to issue a dire warning, CNN reports.
“I’m going to say what people can’t say. If we cut one position, if we close one station … the residents of Los Angeles are going to pay the ultimate sacrifice, and someone will die,” said Freddy Escobar, president of the city’s fire union.
The fires that followed seem to prove these warnings.
An analysis of data from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) revealed it has fewer firefighters per capita than almost any other major U.S. city, according to CNN. With less than one firefighter for every 1,000 residents, LAFD’s staffing levels fall behind cities like Chicago, Dallas and Houston, where ratios are closer to two firefighters per 1,000 residents, CNN reports. Among the largest U.S. cities, only San Diego’s fire department is comparably understaffed.
LAFD’s 3,500 firefighters are responsible for nearly 4 million residents, a ratio that challenges the department’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies, according to CNN. By contrast, San Francisco employs more than 1,800 firefighters for a population of 1.5 million.
The strain on resources extends beyond battling wildfires. Los Angeles firefighters also respond to structural fires, traffic accidents and a rising number of medical emergencies exacerbated by the city’s homelessness crisis, according to CNN.
Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley echoed these concerns in a memo last year, highlighting how the city’s population has grown significantly since 1960, while the number of fire stations has declined. Crowley noted that the department would need 62 new fire stations and hundreds more firefighters to align with benchmarks recommended by the NFPA.
Councilmember Traci Park, who spoke at a recent Fire Commission meeting, warned that fire department resources are being stretched “beyond the brink” as wildfire risks escalate. Park emphasized that the lack of investment in public safety has left Angelenos vulnerable. Just weeks later, her district in Pacific Palisades became the epicenter of one of the devastating fires.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced criticism for budget cuts to the fire department but defended them as necessary during “tough budgetary times.” She also pointed to subsequent funding allocations that ultimately increased the agency’s budget. However, the fire union argues that the department’s challenges stem from decades of underfunding. “This isn’t about one budget cycle. It’s not about a single mayor. This has been the case for decades,” Escobar said.
A report from the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation revealed further strains on resources. Fire stations designed for six firefighters now house up to 12, with limited facilities to support them. Firefighters often pay out of pocket for urgent repairs or replacements for items like washing machines and refrigerators, underscoring the daily struggles within the department.
