2025 Downey Fire Department Annual Report

CITY OF DOWNEY FIRE DEPARTMENT

Mission & Values

The dedicated men and women of the Downey Fire Department strive to provide the highest quality of service to the expanding needs of our community. We will safely and aggressively prevent or minimize the loss of life and property throughourcombinedprofessionalefforts.

Message from the Fire Chief

Welcome to the 2025 Annual Report for the Downey FireDepartment.Lookingbackoverthepreviousyear, I am extremely proud of our department, and all of its hard work, dedication, and accomplishments. This report shares highlights and data from all aspects of DowneyFireDepartment.

2025 was a year that began with change and continued with service to our community and our region. Throughout the year, our department responded to the highest number of emergency incidents in its history, including regional responses to the Eaton and Palisades fires. Assuming a proactive approach to safety in Downey, we engaged heavily in fire prevention, community outreach, and training. The men and women of Downey Fire Department remain committed to providing the highest quality of service totheexpandingneedsofourcommunity.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our personnel for their unwavering professionalism. Thank you to the City Council, City leadership, and the residents of Downey for your continued trust. We are united in our commitment to maintaining a thriving, secure,andresilientcommunity.

Anthony Hildebrand FireChief

Department Profile

Since its establishment on September 10, 1957, the Downey Fire Department has served as a cornerstone of public safety in Southeast Los Angeles County. Over the past 69 years, the department has grown into a premier agency characterized by its technical expertise and operational efficiency. Today, the DFD holds a prestigious ISO Class 1 rating, a distinction that reflects its commitment to the highest standardsoffireprotectionandemergencyresponse.

The department oversees a dedicated workforce of approximately 100 personnel, including 63 sworn firefighters. Tasked with protecting 114,000 residents across 12.6 square miles, the DFD manages a high service volume of over 13,000 emergency calls annually. To ensure rapid response, the department operates four strategically located stations,maintaininganaverageresponsetimeofundersixminutes.

While fire suppression remains a core competency, medical emergencies account for roughly 70% of the department's total call volume. In response, the DFD ensures that every fire engine is staffed with two licensed paramedics, providing immediate Advanced Life Support upon arrival. The department also serves as a critical regional resource, operating theDowney Fire Communication Center, which provides 9-1-1 dispatch services for the cities of Downey, Compton, and SantaFeSprings.

TheDFD’scapabilitiesextendintohighlyspecializedfields,including a Type 1 Heavy Rescue unit for urban search and rescue and a tactical paramedic team that supports the Downey Police Department’s SWAT operations. DFD remains invested in community development through its partnership with the Warren High School Fire Technology program, which prepares local students for careers in emergency services. Throughthisblendofregionalleadershipandcommunity-focusedcare, the Downey Fire Department continues to set a benchmark for excellenceinthefireservice.

Department Information

Fire Station 1 - Headquarters

12222 Paramount Blvd.

Paramedic Engine 61

Truck 611

Battalion 604

Rescue 645

USAR 661

Daily Staffing: 13

Fire Station 3

9900 Paramount Blvd.

Paramedic Engine 63

Rescue 647

Daily Staffing: 6

Fire Station 2 9556 Imperial Hwy.

Paramedic Engine 62

Rescue 646

Daily Staffing: 6

Fire Station 4 9349 Florence Ave.

Paramedic Engine 64

Rescue 648

Daily Staffing: 6

Department Information

Emergency Response

Average Turnout Time

Emergency Response

Downey Fire Communications Center

The Downey Fire Communications Center is one of two Public Safety Access Points in the City. Serving the cities of Downey, Compton, and Santa Fe Springs, this communications center is responsible for providing emergency fire dispatch to nearly 250,000 residents of SoutheastLosAngelesCounty.

Downey Fire Communications Center

Public Engagement

45 Events Attended

2,600 Students Reached

29 School Field Trips

147 DUSD Students Enrolled in Fire Technology Pathway

Fire Prevention

The Fire Prevention Bureau is responsible for all community risk reduction activities performed by Downey Fire Department. From investigating the cause of all fires in Downey to ensuring that all construction projects comply with state and local codes. The Fire Prevention Bureau also actively manages the compliance of all businesses in Downey that handle, store, or produce hazardous materials. This dedicated group continues to make a tremendousimpactonpuiblicsafetythroughoutourcommunity.

Inspections Conducted

1,224

DFD Training

Part of CA Regional Task Force-2, DFD sends all members to training to ensurereadinesstorespond tomajorincidentsacrossthe state. Urban Search and Rescue

DFD’sTrainingCenter continuestoundergo upgradesincludingtraining propsforfireground operations.

Firefighters maintain their skills on all manner of emergency response including river rescues on theCity’s2riverbeds.

Firefighter Development

Firefighters undergo a minimum of 20 hours of monthly training including manipulativedrillstoensure thehighestqualityofservice.

RecruitTraining TEMS

8 weeks of intensive trainingstartaDFDrecruit’s career.Duringtraining,they learn to operate as a memberoftheDowneyFire team.

IncollaborationwithDowney Police Department, DFD maintains a tactical paramedic team capable of providingemergencycareon highacuityincidents.

2025 Highlights

Eaton/Palisades Fires

Early in the incident, Downey Fire committed two fire engines to battling the fires and supporting the affected communities. Just days later, USAR 661, our Heavy Rescue was sent to perform searches of the impacted communities for survivors. Although this was the largest resource committment DFD has made, service inDowneyremainedatfullcapacity.

2025 brought significant movement across all DFD ranks, the following promotions occurred duringthepreviousyear:1-FireChief, 1-AssistantChief,1-BattalionChief, 2-FireCaptains,3-FireEngineers

Promotions

InAugust,thenewestadditionto theDFDfleetwasplacedinto service.Truck611isa2024Pierce EnforcerAerialfiretruckthat replacestheprevious2005model. SupportedbyMeasureS,this apparatusisexpectedtoserve Downeyforthenext20years.

In collaboration with Downey Fire Department, Warren High School started a Fire Technology program that allows high school students to begin their fire service education. With 147 students in its inaugural year, this program is already a resounding success.

2025 Highlights

Emergency Preparedness Fair

Downey Emergency Management hosted a Preparedness Fair where nearly 200 Downey families learned how to get ready for emergencies. From minor events to major disasters, Downey is a more resilient communitybecauseofeventslikethis.

For the 39th year, Downey Fire Department hosted our holiday toy drive. Supported by local businesses, service groups, and residents, this annual event brightens the holidayseasonforhundredsoflocalchildren.

2026 Outlook

2026 will be an exciting year for Downey Fire Department. Focused on our mission of deliveringthehighestqualityofservicetoourcommunity,ourgoalsfor2026willensurethat Downeyremainsasafeandhealthycommunity.

ACCREDITATION

Downey Fire Department is actively involved in pursuing accreditation through the Center for Fire Accreditation International. This prestigious designation will place our department in an elite group of agencies that have achieved this and serve as recognition that DFD is delivering the highest quality of publicsafetynowandintothefuture.

FIRE ENGINES

In late 2026, Downey Fire Department is anticipating the delivery of two new Pierce Enforcer fire engines. Funded during the 2023 budget, these engines have been designed and built by Pierce Manufacturing to address the specific needs of Downey Fire Department.Oncethey’vearrived,theseengineswillbeprotecting Downeyforthenexttentofifteenyears.

CARES 2030

To ensure the highest quality of care for patients, Downey Fire Department, in collaboration with regional healthcare partners, is developing a plan to improve cardiac arrest outcomes. Once in place, this plan will align with countywide efforts and contribite to makingDowneyasafe,healthy,andresilientcommunity.