Record Breaking Months for Dispatch

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has continued to experience a steady increase of 9-1-1 calls. During the months of May and June of this year, our Department faced the busiest daily run average ever. In May, Dispatch received a run average of 844.68 calls daily. In June, Dispatch received 854.23 daily calls. To demonstrate how busy Dispatch has been during the months of May and June, they are receiving a 9-1-1 call approximately every 1.7 minutes!

So how do they do it? How do they answer a 9-1-1 call, every 1.7 minutes for 24 hours out of the day, seven days a week? Well, that’s simple -  the key to their success is being prepared. During fire seasons and any extreme weather days, our Department prepares by augmenting staffing plans in all areas, including Dispatch. Each day our Forestry Division analyses predicted weather patterns for the cities and communities we serve. This analysis is then reviewed by several Department personnel, including our Executive Team, to determine if increased staffing is warranted.

The month of July has seen its share of frantic calls as well. On the Fourth of July alone, Dispatch received 1,760 calls, of which 96 percent were answered in less than 10 seconds. On average, that’s a call approximately every 49 seconds.

“In spite of our increasing call volume, our mission of answering every call quickly and with the utmost importance has not been compromised. Our dispatchers do a tremendous job maintaining a level of excellence,” shared Assistant Fire Chief Chris Bundesen. Dispatch has been swamped with calls, yet their caliber of work has not faltered, which is truly something to tip your hat off to. Keep up the great job!