The brave men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department continue to be one of the best-trained and highly equipped departments in the country. Under the leadership of Chief Douglas Barry and now Chief Millage Peaks, the department has ushered in a new era of professionalism, excellence in service and accountability.
The Los Angeles Fire Department continues to be one of the leading departments in the country, regularly testing its ability to respond emergencies by training under its core philosophy—train as if your life depends on it. Most recently the department participated in citywide emergency drill—The Great Southern California Shakeout—that simulated a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, and allowed the department to simulate a mass casualty incident scenario. The department’s constant training has been complimented by a net gain of 282 firefighters since the Mayor took office.
Sayre Fire
In 2008, the Sayre Fire consumed over 13,000 acres in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. The fire destroyed over 500 homes at the Oakridge Mobile Home Park in Sylmar, while the fire devastated homes—the quick action of Fire Department prevented any loss of life, as the fire engulfed the mobile home park in a matter of minutes.