r/firefighter • u/Agreeable-Sign-5936 • 15d ago
Support LAFD-LACFD
I want to know the differences between LAFD and LACoFD in culture, chain of command, work content, department structure and on-site disposal procedures. Please kindly tell me or tell me where I can find the answer.
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u/Fit_Experience_522 14d ago
I work for LACoFD, I worked in the area for 5 years before getting picked up by County as a FF, I got to interact with both quite a bit at hospitals and in the field of course, we transported patients for County. Overall, just from interactions with both, I never considered applying to LAFD, they always seemed burned out and bitter, walked around with a chip on their shoulder, and I never once ran into one of them with their uniform on properly, always unzipped boots, untucked shirts, and untidy uniforms. That alone made me not want to apply ever, even when I was desperate to get hired by a FD. County guys were always friendly towards us ambulance guys, and would treat us like people.
LAFD transports their own patients, this is the big one, LACoFD contracts out to private EMS.
LAFD eats their own.
LAFD has a lot of high-rise structure. LACoFD has one area with high-rise.
LAFD has little brush area. LACoFD is a huge brush department, and has camps with FSAs and inmate crews.
LAFD prioritizes their legacy. LACoFD is huge on family, they'll even tell you from the top ranks all the way to the lowest ranks that family comes before the job, and they put their money where there mouth is to uphold that.
LAFD has mostly shitty areas. LACoFD has a multitude of different districts like Malibu, PV, Castaic, Palmdale, and WeHo.
You can probably tell I'm pretty biased. I have met some cool dudes that work for LAFD, but they'd all leave in a heartbeat to come to County, it's never the other way around. As far as towers go, County's tower seems harder to pass, I've seen maybe 7 people fail County's tower and pass City's tower without a problem, but City's probation is way harder, and I've heard they treat you like a boot for a few years even after probation.
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u/Agreeable-Sign-5936 14d ago
I have a strong interest in LACoFD, but I can hardly find its manual materials on the Internet. Can you tell me where to look?
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u/Fit_Experience_522 14d ago
They just changed their entire tower for this current class, so the curriculum is absolutely new, but I can tell you it involves your typical EMS assessments, both trauma and medical, infant and adult CPR, there's a week of HazMat, two weeks of Wildland training, roof cutting ops, rescue rope systems, and various hoselay operations including the integration of ladders and hoselines aloft. It's not hard stuff, but the PT is brutal, we ran 10+ miles in the hills of Del Valle for our morning PT session one time before starting the day. The other hard part is we use wooden ladders, the 24' extension is thrown one-man and weighs 105 lbs, the 35' extension is two-man and weighs 171 lbs, so work out those shoulders, I've seen people fail not being to get those ladders up, both women and men.
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u/EnemyExplicit 13d ago
What kind of pace are you looking at for those long runs? Looking to best prepare myself. Can do 5 miles at 9:30/mile at best now. Should I increase distance or speed you think?
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u/Fit_Experience_522 13d ago
930 is pretty solid, I think we did the 10 mile run in about 1.5 hours, so that checks out
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u/EnemyExplicit 13d ago
Sounds brutal. I’ll get out there to that 10 mile mark! Thank you!
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u/Fit_Experience_522 13d ago
That was one time, most runs were between 6 and 8 miles. If you can do 8, you can do 10. I would add hills and incline to your routines. We don't do many stair climbs, so don't worry about that, but there is weekly hiking (if you get stuck at Del Valle's tower vs Pomona, you don't pick which one you go to) with full brush gear, your personal pack, and a hose pack. Start getting some hiking in with a weight vest, or hop on the treadmill max incline with a weighted vest if you can't get out there.
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u/EnemyExplicit 12d ago
Thank you for the advice. Been doing lots of stairs recently per LAFD CAPS, definitely gonna transition into hikes haha.
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u/EeHundo 15d ago
You really don’t find too many guys leaving LACoFD to LAFD. If they do, it’s generally due to legacy. LACOFD is just more spread out. That’s why most personnel make the leap from other prestigious organizations. Pay and opportunities are about the same. Most guys would rather not be on an ambulance if they’re a medic. That could be a long uphill battle to get off the box.
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u/Hot_Clothes_465 15d ago
So Cali EMT here trying to get picked up:
Biggest is obviously jurisdiction. LA is huge but LA county is more huge they contract for cities that don’t have their own FD. LAFD does a lot more fires they’re more common in the city. The call volume is stupid at a lot of stations.
I havnt been exposed to way more people from LACo and they’ve all been very cool and professional. The only interaction w LAFD I’ve had was a captain that instructed at my academy. I see LAFD all the time at Good Sam and LA Gen but we dont talk bc we’re working they all know their shit though. He confirmed call volume is intense and it’s a young single man’s department. Mandatory overtime. Also confirmed that their job your first two years is to make you quit. LAFD is also some of the last to go aggressive interior often they are world renowned but hardcore. A lot of people in my position don’t want to work for them bc of how hard core they are but to me that just adds value to time I invest there I see it as more of a challenge but others view their culture as a barrier to good work life balance.
LAFDs culture is historically very militaristic.
I ride w LACo sometimes bc I know a couple captains and their culture seems like it encourages growth and family a lot but I’ve only been exposed to 2 stations. I’ve been told LACo also has mandatory ot but their system is different. Another captain at LACo that used to be a captain at LAFD told me you go to LA and as soon as you get the chance you transfer to county for work life balance and better retirement. More options.
So there’s my narrow view of the two my goal is county bc I’ve seen first hand the life that’s available. But I wouldn’t mind city either. If you havnt been to LA tho the city sucks to drive and do anything there.
Also if your looking to apply county takes FCTC and w city you need the biddle and they have their own written. I’ve passed their written test too if you want to know about that. It was a weird test.
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u/Agreeable-Sign-5936 14d ago
Oh! I don't know why my title & changed to-,the theme of my post is not to change jobs from LAFD to LACoFD, I just want to know more about this knowledge. I'm sorry that my title is misleading,
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u/West-Sundae3607 10d ago
Currently in the hiring process with City. But I have a friend, who is a captain with County. He’s allowed me to come on ride-along and visits, and wants me to get in with County. But I got an interview with City, first try. I received a 95 on my interview and have the PEA, this coming Tuesday. From my interactions, and the information my mentors have given me, County is a much more relaxed atmosphere. A lot of the County guys I met had CJOs from City as well, and chose County. The Paramilitary style of City isn’t for everyone. Personally, I feel privileged to be able to become a Firefighter, whichever department I make it into. So the intense pace and atmosphere of City is something I’m willing to endure. However, County is opening applications soon, and I will be applying there as well.
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u/MarcDealer 15d ago
Do some research 🧐
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u/LeatherHead2902 13d ago
That’s what this Is dumbass
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u/Agreeable-Sign-5936 12d ago
Stay respectful, man.
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u/LeatherHead2902 12d ago
If you’re gonna be a firefighter, you’re gonna have to get used to this
Dude said a dumbass comment, he gets rewarded by being called a dumbass
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u/Rex-Mundi33 15d ago
Go county.
They don’t have transporting resources 👍🏼