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in: Los Angeles County, California departments operating Pierce apparatus, Former operators of Crown apparatus,
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Downey Fire Department (California)

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Area Served[]

The Downey Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Downey located 13 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles in southeast Los Angeles County. Downey was founded by and named for the former governor of California, John Gately Downey (June 24, 1827 – March 1, 1894). Incorporated as a city on December 17, 1956, it encompasses an area covering 12.6 square miles, and serves a population of approximately 114,355. Downey is bordered by the cities of South Gate and Bell Gardens to the west and northwest, the City of Pico Rivera lies to the northeast, the cities of Santa Fe Springs and Norwalk to the east, and the cities of Paramount and Bellflower to the south. All of these, with the exception of Santa Fe Springs, receive fire protection from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Mutual Aid[]

The Downey Fire Department has mutual aid agreements with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Compton Fire Department, the Long Beach Fire Department, the Montebello Fire Department, and the Santa Fe Springs Department of Fire-Rescue.

Department Profile[]

The Downey FD workforce is distributed over three platoons and is currently comprised of 63 sworn firefighters, eighteen of which are licensed paramedics. In addition, 18 ambulance operators are employed. Its resources include four fire stations and twelve front-line emergency vehicles comprised of four paramedic engine companies, one tiller operated ladder truck company, two paramedic squads, four basic life support transport ambulances, and one battalion chief vehicle. Daily Platoon staffing consist of 21 firefighters and 8 ambulance operators. Engine companies are staffed with four personnel, two of which are licensed paramedics; the truck company is staffed with four personnel; rescue ambulances with two ambulance operators/EMTs, and the command vehicle is staffed with a battalion chief. In addition. Downey FD cross staffs a technical rescue / USAR vehicle which is part of California Office of Emergency Services (OES) Regional Task Force 2 (CA-RTF-2), as well as a Cal OES Type 1 engine. Downey Fire responds to an average of 10,019 calls for service emergency calls per year, over 7,000 of those are for Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Dispatch[]

All emergency and non-emergency responses by the Downey and Compton Fire Departments, as well as the Santa Fe Springs Department of Fire Rescue, are initiated, dispatched, and managed from and by the Downey Fire Communications Center (DFCC). The DFCC employs a total of 11 dispatchers; 8 full-time, 2 part-time and 1 Supervisor who also assists in the center as needed. The dispatchers work 12 hour shifts with the minimum staffing for each shift being 2 dispatchers.

California Regional Task Force 2[]

The Downey Fire Department is a member agency of California Office of Emergency Services Regional Task Force 2 (CA-RTF-2).

History[]

The City of Downey assumed the responsibility of providing fire protection services for the citizens of Downey from the Los Angeles County Fire Department at noon on Tuesday, September 10, 1957 with one fire chief and 53 personnel. Downey Fire initially utilized fire apparatus on loan from the cities of Burbank, Huntington Park, Santa Ana, South Gate and Vernon until four Crown triple combination pumpers were purchased and placed into service on December 1, 1957. A new training tower facility at 12354 Bellflower Boulevard was dedicated in February 1962. It continues to be utilized today as a centralized training center for Downey Firefighters. In January 2015 the Downey Fire Department transitioned to paramedic engine companies in all four fire stations, replacing the two paramedic rescue squads (641 and 642) in fire stations 1 and 4. In addition, a fourth fire department EMT-staffed BLS ambulance was placed in service at Fire Station 4. The Downey Fire Department has maintained an ISO Class 1 rating since January 9, 2021. They are one of five Class 1 agencies in LA County.

Fire Stations[]

Station Address In Service Notes
1 11435 Downey Avenue 1957 - 1975 Former LACoFD Station 10; closed and demolished / Replaced by new Fire Station 1 at 12222 Paramount Boulevard
1 12222 Paramount Boulevard Jan. 11, 1975-2019
2020-present 		Building closed for expansion and renovations.
2 9556 Imperial Highway Dec. 1, 1957-2021 Building razed and rebuilt
3 9900 Paramount Boulevard Dec. 1, 1957-2020 Building razed and rebuilt
4 9349 Florence Avenue Jul. 14, 1959-2021 Building razed and rebuilt
5 Old River School Road / Golondrinas Street 1963 - 1974 On the grounds of Rancho Los Amigos Hospital; Closed and demolished / Service area covered by Fire Station 1.

Apparatus Roster[]

  • All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
  • California license plate denoted by CA#.

Fire Station 1 - 12222 Paramount Boulevard[]

Re-opened May 29, 2020

  • Engine 61 (ALS) - 2016 Pierce Quantum (1500/500/30F) (SN#29222-01 or 02)
  • Battalion 603 (Spare) - 2014 Ram 3500 4x4 w/ canopy (CA#1409825)
  • Battalion 604 - 2024 Ram 2500
  • Truck 611 - 2024 Pierce Enforcer 7010 (-/-/107' Ascendant tractor-drawn) (SN#39171)
  • Engine 621 (Reserve) - 2001 Pierce Quantum (1500/500) (SN#12302-01 or 02) (Ex-Engine 61)
  • Utility 629 - 2001 Ford F-350 / Harbor stakebed (CA#1408674)
  • BLS 645 - 2022 Ford E-350 / Wheeled Coach
  • USAR 661 - 2004 Pierce Quantum Encore walk-around rescue (SN#15264) (CA#1163480)
  • Training 671 (Training Coordinator) - Ford F-150 SuperCab w/ canopy

Fire Station 2 - 9556 Imperial Highway[]

Opened 2021

  • Engine 62 (ALS) - 2016 Pierce Quantum (1500/500/30F) (SN#29222-01 or 02)
  • BLS 646 - 2014 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue Type III ambulance (CA#1409823)

Fire Station 3 - 9900 Paramount Boulevard[]

Opened March 23, 2020

  • Engine 22 (Reserve) - 2001 Pierce Quantum (1500/500) (SN#12302-02 or 01) (Ex-Engine 62)
  • Engine 63 (ALS) - 2010 Pierce Quantum (1500/500/30F) (SN#22827-01 or 02) (CA#1242730)
  • BLS 647 - 2018 Ford F-450 / Road Rescue Type I ambulance
  • Cal OES 1119 - 2017 HME Ahrens-Fox 1871-SFO SMFD Model 18 Type 1 (1250/850/20F) (SN#22921) (CA#1523247) (VIN#44KFT4288HWZ22921) (Ex-OES 389)

Fire Station 4 - 9349 Florence Avenue[]

Opened 2021 - Closed from February 25, 2022 until February 2023 after sustaining damage as a result of an electrical fire.

  • Engine 64 (ALS) - 2010 Pierce Quantum (1500/500/30F) (SN#22827-01 or 02)
  • BLS 648 - 2018 Ford F-450 / Road Rescue Type I ambulance

Station/Assignment Unknown[]

  • 2018 Ram 4500 / Road Rescue Type I ambulance (Ex-Rescue Ambulance 643)
  • 2015 Ram 4500 / Road Rescue Type I ambulance (CA#1443175) (Ex-Rescue Squad 641)
  • 2014 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue Type III ambulance (CA#1409826) (Ex-BLS 645, ex-ALS Rescue Squad 642)
  • 2005 Pierce Quantum aerial (-/-/100' tractor-drawn) (SN#16592) (CA#1213825) (Ex-Truck 611)
  • 2010 GMC Yukon XL (CA#1389233) (Ex-Battalion 604)

Out of Service[]

  • (Reserve) (BLS) - 2009 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue Type I ambulance (CA#1280241) (Ex-Rescue Ambulance 645, ex-Rescue Ambulance 642) (Stolen and crashed September 2025)

Retired Apparatus[]

  • 2009 Ford E-350 / Wheeled Coach Type III ambulance (CA#1261537) (Ex-Rescue Ambulance 646) 2003 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue Type III ambulance (CA#1193877) (VIN#1FDWE35P56DA19465) (Ex-Squad 645 Reserve)
  • 2003 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue Type III ambulance (SN#4759) (CA#1193467) (VIN#1FDXE45FX3HB76723) (Ex-Squad 646 Reserve) (Sold at auction[1])
  • 2002 Ford E-350 / Road Rescue Type III ambulance (CA#1163460) (VIN#1FDXE45F03HA97450) (CA#1163460) (Ex-Squad 643)
  • 1994 E-One Hurricane pumper (1500/500) (Ex-Engine 622, ex-Engine 64) (Donated to Heroico Cuerpo de Bomberos de Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico)
  • 1994 E-One Hurricane pumper (1500/500) (Ex-Engine 621, ex-Engine 63)
  • 1993 Ford / Leader Modular Type II ambulance (Ex-Squad 641)
  • 1993 Ford / Leader Modular Type II ambulance (Ex-Squad 642)
  • 1993 Chevrolet Suburban (Ex-Battalion 604)
  • 1988 E-One Hurricane pumper (1500/500) (Ex-Engine 62) (Donated to Heroico Cuerpo de Bomberos Voluntarios de Santa Ana Pacueco, Guanajuato, Mexico)
  • 1988 E-One Hurricane pumper (1500/500) (Ex-Engine 61)
  • 1987 Chevrolet Suburban (Ex-Battalion Reserve, ex-Battalion 604)
  • 1982 Mack CF688FAT-1027 aerial (?/?/106' LTI tractor-drawn) (Body by Conestoga Custom Products) (Ex-Truck 611) (Sold to Wicktonville Fire Department)
  • 1979 Ford / Stoner Type II ambulance (Ex-Squad 643)
  • 1976 Ward LaFrance pumper (2250/500) (Ex-Engine 63)
  • 1976 Ward LaFrance pumper (2250/500) (Ex-Engine 64)
  • 1969 Crown Firecoach CP150-85D pumper (1500/400) (SN#F-1593) (Ex-Engine 621, ex-Engine 1)
  • 1968 Crown Firecoach CP150-85D pumper (1500/400) (SN#F-1565) (Ex-Engine 622, ex-Engine 2)
  • 1968 Chevrolet utility box (Ex-Air 628)
  • 1961 Crown Firecoach CP125-93 pumper (1250/500) (SN#F-1244) (Ex-Engine 4) (Sold to Santa Fe Springs Department of Fire-Rescue)
  • 1961 Crown Firecoach CS65-59 aerial (-/-/65' Snorkel) (SN#F-1242) (Ex-Truck 1, ex-Ladder 1)
  • 1957 Crown Firecoach CP125-93 pumper (1250/500) (SN#F-1112) (Ex-Engine 4) (Sold to Colton Fire Department (California))
  • 1957 Crown Firecoach CP125-93 pumper (1250/500) (SN#F-1111) (Ex-Engine 3)
  • 1957 Crown Firecoach CP125-93 pumper (1250/500) (SN#F-1110) (Ex-Engine 5)
  • 1957 Crown Firecoach CP125-93 pumper (1250/500) (SN#F-1109) (Ex-Reserve Engine 3, ex-Engine 2)

External Links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ [1]

Station Map[]

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