La Habra Fire changes

[PdxPaul]

In order to address inequities in the amount post Prop. 13 contract cities were paying Los Angeles County Fire for service where La Habra was paying just 49% of the cost of the four station serving the city the following changes were made effective Oct. 1.

Engine 193, of which the city paid just 25% of the cost is closed.
Engine 194, which was paid 100% by L.A. County Fire Dist property taxes while 50% of calls were in La Habra, reduced from a 4-person PAU engine, to a 3- person Paramedic Assessment Engine with La Habra paying half the cost.
Engine 192, now a 3-person Paramedic engine from PAU engine. 100% city funded.
Engine 191 from one of the spots paid by L.A. County to 100% city funded,
Squad 191, from 73% city funded to 100%.

The same rearrangements should be expected over the next few years in other cash for service cities, so watch out Inglewood and a few others. The free ride is soon over. Pay up or start your own FD.

 

[Markb]

Seems pretty typical. Cities let go of their fire departments because of a low-ball deal by the county. Norco has dealt with a similar situation. Much if this was to get out of pension payments, but after a few years they end up paying more than they would have if they would've kept their own department. Now they have to incur millions of dollars to reestablish if they choose to do so.

 

[marcotor]

And La Habra, at least, has alternatives should they choose. OC Fire is (probably too expensive) one. Another is forming their own department, and joining the Metronet JPA like Placenta recently did.

 

[Randyk4661]

La Habra was it's own department once. I remember they went with LACo because LACo could offer better fire coverage as they had more stations that could respond vs OCFA. The OCFA would have to come from Buena Park with delays as only one station was close to the city.
LACo had three(?) other stations that were closer to the city.
I think it also had something to do with specialized units, LACo could respond hazmat or heavy rescue faster than OCFA could.

 

[ctadam12]

Should've just asked Fullerton for a bid.

 

[tkenny53]

When LACOFD La Habra had it hands full with calls, Brea, was their first backup. La Habra Heights might, but they are in their own world. Worked in LH for over 20 years and directly with the both city FD and later LACOFD, 194's was added new to pick up some coverage to help support La Mirada and Whittier. La Habra also kept 2 ambulances via CARE. 193's is a pretty new station, I find it odd that the doors were closed.