District reports heavy mutual-aid deployments; county ambulance contract and regional dispatch delays noted

District leadership told the board the agency has been heavily engaged in mutual-aid deployments and is monitoring several countywide operational items that could affect local service.

Fire management said the district sent nine personnel to the Palisades and related fires in Los Angeles County from Jan. 7 through Jan. 26; personnel included engine crews and overhead positions such as task-force leader, safety officer, damage-assessment member, heavy-equipment boss and a public-information trainee. The district also sent one overhead member to the "Border 2" fire near San Diego in the role of line paramedic.

On regional operations, staff reported the countywide regional fire dispatch/communications project has been delayed by construction and equipment approvals; staff now expect an April completion after earlier target dates in January and February.

The county is also preparing to post an agenda item on Feb. 11 that will include a proposed ambulance contract. District staff said they will analyze the posted contract language as soon as it is released, and local fire chiefs planned additional meetings before the county board of supervisors hears the item.

Finally, the district is in its 2025'26 budget-development cycle: preliminary budget proposals were being collected from divisions and staff planned a finance-committee review in early to mid-March ahead of an April board presentation of the proposed preliminary budget.

District leadership did not announce changes to staffing levels or to ambulance service contracts at the meeting; actions will depend on contract language and subsequent board direction.