LAFD standards-of-cover study finds gaps in coverage, urges hundreds of new firefighters and dozens of stations

The Los Angeles Fire Department is “under resourced, understaffed, and underfunded for decades,” Battalion Chief Eric Roberts told the City Council Public Safety Committee, presenting a standards-of-cover analysis that found the department can reach only about half of city residences within the NFPA-recommended four minutes and that the department’s 90th percentile travel time is 7 minutes, 53 seconds — roughly double the national recommendation.

The findings, compiled in a report the department produced with labor partners and the International Association of Fire Fighters, showed LAFD handled roughly 514,000 service calls last year and currently has about 3,538 sworn firefighters, a ratio Roberts said equals about 0.91 firefighters per 1,000 residents compared with an NFPA recommended range of 1.54 to 1.81. “We need 712 additional firefighters in the short term,” Roberts said.

Why it matters: Committee members said the results underscore long‑standing concerns about response times, equipment and facility maintenance, and worker workload ahead of the next budget cycle. The committee voted to note and file the report and adopted a motion to return annual updates before future budget decisions.

Key findings and recommendations - Coverage and travel times: The department’s mapping analysis found LAFD can reach 49.2% of city locations within four minutes for a typical EMS or fire response; medium‑hazard occupancies meet the standard about 44% of the time. The department’s 90th percentile travel time was 7:53 in the study period, Roberts said. - Resource shortfall: Roberts said the study’s short‑term staffing gap is 712 firefighters. The department recommended a multi‑part approach: immediate redeployment of existing resources (including use of “200 series” engines and fast response vehicles), pursuit of additional ambulances and advanced practitioner/fast‑response units, and a long‑term plan that could add dozens of stations. - Stations: The IAFF analysis recommended up to 84 stations as an unconstrained optimal number; LAFD staff proposed a fiscally constrained plan to add 62 new stations while relying on mutual‑ and automatic‑aid partners for bordering areas. - Out‑of‑service apparatus and maintenance: Roberts told the committee that, at the time of his remarks, 39 fire engines, 32 rescue ambulances and 13 trucks were out of service and that the department needs more civilian mechanics and supply‑maintenance staff to sustain apparatus. - Short‑ and medium‑term steps: Suggested immediate actions include deploying life‑force engine configurations already available (42 engines), funding roughly 32 additional ambulances or equivalent fast‑response units, and adjusting station deployment to reduce cross‑district responses. Medium‑term steps include addressing span‑of‑control and battalion staffing and adding civilian administrative capacity.

Union and firefighter comments Freddy Escobar, identified as UFLAC president and representing rank‑and‑file firefighters, told the committee the report’s findings are “indisputable” and urged immediate investment. “Now that we’ve got actual facts, it’s finally time to invest in our fire department,” Escobar said, pressing elected officials to support a fire bond and other funding measures.

Rich Ramirez, second vice president of UFLAC Local 112 and an LAFD firefighter‑paramedic, told the committee the department responds to many more calls with fewer resources than decades ago and urged the city to back the study’s recommendations. Captain Chung Ho, also a UFLAC director, warned that mandatory force‑hire programs and long overtime runs are already straining personnel and said the department needs added staffing "so that we don't overburden and push our current employees beyond their breaking points."

Council response and next steps Committee Chair Council Member John Lee and other members praised the report and agreed to keep the item before the committee. Council Member McOsker and Council Member Park introduced a motion for annual updates tied to the study; the committee voted to note and file the report and adopt the motion, with the final recorded vote on the item showing unanimous approval by the members present at that time.

Budget context: Roberts said the fire chief’s pending budget request includes a roughly 7.6% increase and a separate proposal for 412 additional positions (a mix of sworn and civilian roles) as part of a multi‑year vision. He also said the department has a window of opportunity in the next 10–15 years to expand staffing because of recent hiring and retirements: the department hired 267 firefighters in fiscal year 2023–24 and expects roughly 194 retirements over five years, figures Roberts presented to the committee.

Public comment and community impact Several public speakers, including union representatives, urged the council to prioritize investments in personnel, vehicles and stations. In response to council questions, Roberts said the department’s data tools can produce council‑district specific maps and heat maps showing the areas with the longest travel times and highest unit‑hour utilization; he said 16% of calls are now served by resources coming from outside the immediate district, which contributes to longer response times.

What the committee approved The committee voted to note and file the standards‑of‑cover report and to adopt a motion by Council Members McOsker and Park requesting annual updates tied to the study and budget planning. Roberts said additional, more detailed data and a second follow‑up presentation are planned to inform the forthcoming budget cycle.