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LA County Fire Chief details APRU, field blood transfusions and station constraints in Hawthorne
Summary
Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told the Hawthorne City Council that the department’s Advanced Practitioner Response Unit has treated 2,740 patients and diverted 1,425 from emergency rooms, and flagged undersized Fire Station 162 at the airport as a priority for replacement.
Anthony Marrone, fire chief for the LA County Fire Department’s Hawthorne contract area, presented an overview of local fire and emergency medical services and urged ongoing collaboration with city staff to address facility and staffing needs. Marrone said the department staffs three stations in Hawthorne with daily shift coverage and described specialized units assigned to the city.
Marrone highlighted two programs he said have cut hospital transports and improved on-scene care: the Advanced Practitioner Response Unit (APRU), launched in Hawthorne in March 2023 and staffed by a nurse practitioner and firefighter‑paramedic, and the LA DROP prehospital whole-blood program. "Over the three-plus years that AP 20 has been at Fire Station 161, they've treated 2,740 patients and diverted 1,425 from being transported to the emergency room," Marrone said. He added the department has provided 12 prehospital whole-blood transfusions in Hawthorne since April 2025 and reported a 70 percent survival rate across 60 systemwide transfusions.
Council members pressed for clarity on community outreach and training. A council member asked for regular bilingual CPR and CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) trainings; Marrone committed to expanding public education and to providing a local point of contact in Acting Assistant Chief Wade Kelsey. On spending, Marrone noted that Hawthorne pays roughly $2.8 million annually into the fire district (Measure E contributions) and that the cost to build a modern fire station is roughly $20 million. Marrone told the council the department recommends improving facilities first and then increasing personnel.
The chief also raised Fire Station 162 at the airport as a concern: he described undersized apparatus bays, limited dorm/bathroom facilities and water intrusion issues caused by a flat roof. Marrone said he is working with City Manager Norris on long‑term replacement plans to better protect airport operations and surrounding neighborhoods.
The presentation included operational details and assurances about funding: Marrone said APRU is offered to the city at no charge and that whole-blood program expenses are absorbed by the department and not billed to Hawthorne. The council thanked Marrone and asked staff to continue coordination on facility planning and public‑education schedules.
