The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is facing scrutiny as response times for emergencies have reached a 10-year low, with average waits now exceeding six and a half minutes for life-threatening situations. Since 2016, response times for all emergency calls have steadily increased, prompting concern among Angelenos, especially following January’s Palisades Fire.
Despite a growing city population, the LAFD’s resources have not expanded proportionately. The department is one of the smallest big city fire departments in the country, with just under one firefighter per 1,000 residents. This staffing issue, coupled with aging equipment and deteriorating fire station conditions, has strained the department’s ability to respond promptly.
According to Westside Current, response times for Critical Advanced Life Support calls have increased by 58 seconds since 2016. The LAFD’s average response time for emergency medical services now takes over a minute longer than it did in 2016.
The department’s budget has grown from $674.27 million in 2019 to $819.64 million in 2025, yet it remains underfunded. Former LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley, who was fired by Mayor Karen Bass, highlighted these challenges in a memo, noting that the department’s capacity to respond to large-scale emergencies has been compromised by budget cuts.
LAist reports that the LAFD responds to over 500,000 service calls annually, with more than 80% being medical emergencies. The department has been advised to expand its use of fast response vehicles and hire additional non-firefighter personnel to alleviate the burden on fire units.
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