| The Los Angeles Fire Department is known also | | | | the last horse powered equipment in 1921. |
| as the Los Angeles City Fire Department in | | | | |
| order to distinguish it from the County Fire | | | | When the Los Angeles Fire Department was |
| Department. It is the department that | | | | formed in 1886, it had four fire stations, |
| provides fire protection and emergency | | | | two steam fire engines, two hose reels, a |
| medical services for the city of Los Angeles. | | | | hose wagon, an aerial ladder truck, |
| | | | thirty-one paid firefighters, twenty-four |
| The department originated back in 1871. Late | | | | reserves and 11 horses to protect 30 square |
| in that year, the Los Angeles County Engine | | | | miles and a population of approximately |
| Company No. 1 was put together by the County | | | | 50,000. |
| Clerk. It was a volunteer firefighting force | | | | |
| utilizing a fire engine and a hose jumper. | | | | By 1900, the fire department had grown to 18 |
| The equipment was hand-drawn to fire | | | | stations with 123 full-time paid firefighters |
| emergencies. In the spring of 1874, the fire | | | | and 80 horses. Los Angeles installed 193 |
| company asked the Los Angeles City Council to | | | | fire-alarm boxes allowing residents to give |
| buy horses to move the engine. The council | | | | the alarm if a fire was seen. More than 650 |
| responded in the negative and the fire | | | | fire hydrants were situated throughout the |
| company disbursed. | | | | city, giving firefighters access to a |
| | | | reliable water source. |
| Soon after that L.A. purchased its first | | | | |
| hook-and-ladder truck, which proved to be too | | | | By 1911 the agency had 32 stations. That |
| cumbersome and was ill-adapted to the needs | | | | year, the last of the stations specifically |
| of the city. It was sold to the city of | | | | designed for horses were constructed. |
| Wilmington, and in 1876, another | | | | |
| hook-and-ladder was purchased, serving in the | | | | Today, the fire agency has approximately |
| city until just after 1880. | | | | 3,600 personnel operating out of 106 stations |
| | | | who offer fire prevention, emergency medical |
| In 1877, the first horses were acquired for | | | | care, hazardous materials mitigation, |
| the city fire department. The agency | | | | disaster response, and community service to a |
| continued to use horses for its firefighting | | | | resident population of more than four |
| duties for almost fifty years, phasing out | | | | million, living in 471 square miles. |