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The Medical Director of the Los Angeles County Fire Department is appointed by the Board of Supervisors upon recommendation of the Fire Chief. Since 1988, Franklin Pratt, M.D., has served as the Department’s Medical Director. Initially, he worked as a Reserve Physician flying on the Air Squads. The Medical Director, as a direct report to the Fire Chief, is responsible for advising the Fire Chief and other Department personnel on issues with medical content, implications and consequences. Medical issues important to the Department include Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Wellness-Fitness programs, vaccination and medical treatment programs for disease prevention and medical components of the Urban Search and Rescue Program.

The Medical Director responds to major incidents involving wildland fires, structure fires, hazardous materials incidents and multiple victim rescue or EMS incidents. Chief officers are provided medical expertise needed to assist with incident management.

The Medical Director also represents the Department in local, state and national organizations that influence medical issues of importance to the Department. This helps ensure that the Fire Department’s perspective is part of the discussion when policies or regulations about medical issues are created. This responsibility ranges from membership in two National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Committees to membership on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County American Heart Association.