The City Council’s Public Safety Committee unanimously approved a new Automatic Aid Agreement with the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) to combat emergency incidents.
The new agreement replaces the previous agreement dated January 2019. There was no change proposed. The new contract will expire in March 2025.
Under the agreement, LAFD will provide resources to Pasadena, Burbank and Glendale (known as the Tri-Cities) when requested during emergency incidents, in areas identified in the agreement.
The responses of the tri-cities include Structure Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Response, Freeway Fire, EMS and Technical Rescue, Brush Response and Swift Water Rescue.
Reciprocally, the LAFD will also provide the same services to the tri-cities when requested. Aside from the mentioned services, the LAFD will also provide additional resources including helicopter response, subject to approval.
According to Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin, in 2021, LAFD responded to a total of five incidents in Pasadena. Pasadena responded to LAFD areas 39 times.
“If you look at the number, you may say that’s really weighted but they have specialty equipment that we would not be able to have without their assistance,” said Augustin.
The biggest benefit Pasadena is getting under agreement, as per Augustin, is the helicopter response.
“Where do we get the biggest benefit from the L.A. city? Their aircraft. They have three to six helicopters that are deployed on a regular basis.”
Augustin said Pasadena Fire Department encounters difficulty in accessing high hazard and mountainous areas. During emergency incidents in these areas, he said the amount of fire that aircraft can knock down in a very short period of time “is an extreme benefit to us.”
“The mutual aid, the partnership works extremely well as we move forward,” Augustin further remarked.
The fiscal impact of the automatic aid is yet to be determined but the Fire Department said in its report that it will not increase or decrease the city’s costs.
“It’s good to have an agreement that is up to date in place and it’s good to know that we are doing our part to protect our neighbors and they are doing their part to protect us with the assistance,” Mayor Victor Gordo remarked.
Aside from its contract with LFD, Pasadena Fire also has two other agreements with Los Angeles County and the Angeles National Forest and for fire and rescue services.
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One thought on “Public Safety Committee OKs Pasadena’s Agreement with Los Angeles for Fire and Emergency Services”
LAFD assists Pasadena FD 5 times in 2021 but Pasadena FD responds 39 times to LAFD calls. Pasadena is using its resources 8 times more to assist LAFD. It seems like Pasadena taxpayers are losing their fire resources to Los Angeles. If Pasadena already has an agreement with LA County Fire (who has a helicopter fleet) then I am not sure I see the benefit to Pasadena residents.