What does LNU mean?

[gmclam]

I've heard, on several fire channels in northern California, a reference to LNU###, such as LNU961. What are they refering to?

Thanks,
George

 

[northzone]

LNU means Lake-Napa Unit. This is Lake_Napa CDF unit. It was most likely an order number, such as a code 5 or out of unit cover assignment.
All CDF units end in U. National forests end in F, such as the Tahoe National forest is TNF.

 

[gmclam]

Thank you very much. Yes it was Cal Fire channels I heard the term(s) used on.

 

[RobVallejo]

Forgive me if this is a late bump.

The numbers after the LNU are usually referred to as incident numbers in CDF parlance. Every fire/EMS incident gets one and the firefighters need them for their paperwork.

The Lake-Napa unit includes all of Sonoma, Lake, and Napa counties, as well as parts of Solano and Yolo. There is a schedule A contract for Napa county which means that CDF provides personnel, training, and dispatch for unincorporated Napa county (ie CDF = Napa County Fire). This means that all unincorporated Napa County incidents get an LNU number, just as if they were CDF (state responsibility) incidents in other counties.

EDIT: I suspect you heard it on "several fire channels" because the Lake-Napa unit has two dispatching frequencies, East and West.
-Rob