Months after the devastating Palisades fire, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is taking steps to bolster the city’s fire department. In her budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year, she has called for adding 227 new positions to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), even as other city agencies face potential layoffs.
The mayor’s plan comes in light of a nearly $1 billion budget shortfall. About half of the new positions would be for firefighters, increasing the number in a department that currently employs just under 3,250 firefighters. The proposal also includes 25 new emergency medical technicians, as well as mechanics and other support staff.
Genethia Hudley Hayes, president of the city’s Fire Commission, expressed optimism about the proposal, noting that the department has been under-resourced for years. She emphasized the need for more funding to ensure the department can effectively respond to emergencies.
In the aftermath of the Palisades fire, which destroyed nearly 7,000 structures and resulted in 12 fatalities, former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley indicated that budget cuts had hindered the department’s ability to combat the blaze effectively. Bass’s office has countered these claims, stating that the fire department’s budget had actually grown when accounting for employee raises.
Freddy Escobar, president of the firefighters union, welcomed the mayor’s budget as a positive step but highlighted that the department remains severely understaffed and underfunded. He pointed out that maintaining adequate resources is crucial for the safety of the community.
The budget proposal is not just about increasing firefighter numbers; it also aims to address issues related to homelessness. A new initiative would create a Homeless Fire Protection and Street Medicine Program, which would employ over 50 firefighters and other staff to provide essential services to homeless individuals. This initiative is a response to a significant rise in fires linked to homelessness, with incidents increasing from 4,124 in 2018 to 16,742 in 2024.
City Councilmember Traci Park, who represents the Pacific Palisades area, praised the proposal but urged for more comprehensive funding to truly address the needs of the fire department. She referred to a recent council motion aimed at exploring a ballot measure for additional funding for fire services.
As the City Council prepares to review the mayor’s budget, they have until the end of May to make any changes before approval. The discussions around this budget will be crucial, especially in light of the ongoing challenges the city faces in ensuring public safety and effective emergency response.