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Firefighter staffing levels in California under scrutiny amid wildfire risk

January 29, 2025

Los Angeles and Bay Area departments below national averages

According to a report by Jovi Dai of the Bay Area News Group, published on GovTech, fire departments in Los Angeles and the Bay Area are operating with fewer career firefighters per capita than national standards.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has a staffing rate of 0.90 firefighters per 1,000 residents, lower than the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guideline range of 0.84 to 1.30 for larger departments.

Bay Area departments also report lower-than-average staffing levels.

The Oakland Fire Department has 1.07 firefighters per 1,000 residents, while the San Jose Fire Department has 0.64.

Jerry May, president of San Jose Firefighters Local 230, said: “We have the lowest staffing number out of all metropolitan cities in the United States, and we are severely understaffed.”

Los Angeles wildfires test fire department resources

The Palisades and Eaton fires have burned in and around Los Angeles, killing 28 people and destroying more than 15,000 structures.

Experts have pointed to the impact of firefighter staffing shortages on emergency response.

Susan McKelvey, spokesperson for the NFPA, said: “Preparedness goes much deeper than just fire department staffing levels.

“Many aspects need to be considered, including such things as the propensity of emergency incidents.”

Investigations are underway regarding the availability of mutual aid, water access issues, and the city’s overall preparedness ahead of the fires.

Concerns over city fire department funding and staffing

In Oakland, City Councilman Zac Unger has raised concerns over proposed fire station closures amid the city’s budget crisis.

Unger said: “We saw that Los Angeles was one of the lowest staffed fire departments in the country, and Oakland is right there with them. We have desperately low staffing levels in Oakland.”

County fire departments, which provide coverage for unincorporated areas, also report below-average staffing rates.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has a staffing ratio of 1.16 per 1,000 residents.

Santa Clara County’s rate is 1.06, Alameda County’s is 1.36, and Contra Costa County’s is 0.65.

California’s wildfire risk and firefighter response capacity

Chris Field, a Stanford University environmental science professor, said California’s wildfire risks are increasing due to climate conditions and urban expansion into fire-prone areas.

Field said: “Firefighter staffing is really important. It’s also a really challenging thing to coordinate.

“We face really serious wildfire challenges in the Bay Area, and that is reflected in the recent wildfire experience.”

San Francisco, which has the highest staffing level among major Bay Area cities at 2.09 firefighters per 1,000 residents, is considered at lower wildfire risk due to its geographic location.

In San Jose, Mayor Matt Mahan has requested an assessment of the city’s wildfire preparedness, including vegetation management, evacuation plans, and water supply capacity.

Firefighter staffing levels in California under scrutiny amid wildfire risk: Summary

Fire departments in Los Angeles and the Bay Area have reported staffing levels below national averages, raising concerns about their ability to respond to wildfires.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has 0.90 firefighters per 1,000 residents, while the Oakland Fire Department has 1.07 and the San Jose Fire Department has 0.64.

Recent wildfires in Los Angeles have drawn attention to firefighter staffing shortages and resource availability.

Oakland City Council members have opposed proposed fire station closures due to the city’s budget crisis.

County fire departments also report below-average staffing, with Contra Costa County at 0.65 per 1,000 residents.

Experts say California’s wildfire risks are growing as more homes are built near fire-prone areas.

San Jose is reviewing its wildfire response preparedness, and officials are considering strategies to improve firefighter staffing and emergency response coordination.

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