June 27, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Over 10,000 Applicants Vie for Firefighter Positions at the Los Angeles Fire Department

 

There are 165 firefighter position available within the LAFD. (Thinkstock)
There are 165 firefighter position available within the LAFD. (Thinkstock)

More than 10,000 applicants are vying for 165 firefighter positions with the Los Angeles Fire Department, officials said today, following an overhaul of the agency’s recruitment process, which has been the subject of complaints of nepotism and poor planning.

Women made up at least 528, or 5.19 percent, of the applicants, according to city personnel figures showing the gender and ethnic demographics of the 10,180 aspiring firefighters who applied during a three-day window last week.

Of the applicants, 10.39 percent identified as black, 35.30 percent as Latino, 4.72 percent as Asian, 37.71 percent as white, 1.5 percent as Native American and 2.4 percent as Filipino.

Those who elected not to report their ethnicity made up 7.98 percent of the applicants, which translates to about 812 people. Applicants who chose not to disclose their gender made up 328 of the applicants, or 3.22 percent.

Last year, the department was flooded with applications, with more than 13,000 people looking to fill just a few openings.

City personnel officials asked the 6,000 applicants who passed the written test to submit paperwork on a “first-come-first-serve” basis to help reduce the applicant pool, only to draw complaints when the submission window closed after just one minute, with the target of 900 applicants already reached.

The city is using a lottery process to winnow down the 10,180 who applied in the latest round to 300 candidates who will move onto the next recruitment stage, which includes interviews with personnel and fire officials. The reduced pool would mirror the demographics of the larger group of 10,180 applicants.

The lottery was created after Mayor Eric Garcetti halted recruitment earlier this year amid mounting complaints about the hiring process, describing it as “fatally flawed” and citing concerns over possible nepotism and favoritism.

Many of the new firefighters who joined the department this year are related to fire department employees. At least 15 of the 58 firefighters who graduated in June have “direct ties to the department,” Fire Department spokesman Peter Sanders said.

The original group of 70 recruits contained 13 sons and three nephews of firefighters, fire department figures said.

The concerns about nepotism prompted an internal investigation into whether friends and relatives of city firefighters received extra help in the recruitment process, according to Sanders.

In addition to the investigation, the fire department’s hiring process is undergoing the scrutiny of the Fire Commission’s independent watchdog Sue Stengal, who is expected to present her findings at the next board meeting, likely be held next week, according to Sanders.

Garcetti’s office has also ordered a $270,000 RAND Corp. study to look into ways of revamping the hiring process. The report was scheduled to be completed by the end of this month and presented in August.

Garcetti had wanted the study to be completed before hiring again, but mayoral spokeswoman Vicki Curry said they are moving forward without the report, while basing the process on “informal conversations” with the Rand consultants.

Related Posts

Café UCLA Pops Up in Westwood to Honor Arthur Ashe’s Historic Wimbledon Win

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Three-Day Celebration Includes Giveaways in Tribute to the Iconic Athlete and Activist UCLA will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Arthur...

Captain America Hits the Skirball Big Screen for Heroic Outdoor Movie Night

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Museum-Goers Can Also Catch a Superhero-Themed Drawing Session The Skirball Cultural Center will host an outdoor screening of Captain America:...

Demolition Underway at Beverly Grove Squatter Site After Mystery Fire Renews Safety Fears

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Crews Begin Tearing Down Long-Vacant Apartments on First and Flores  Demolition has begun at a group of long-abandoned apartment buildings...

(Video) Welcome to the Urban Jungle — where nature meets the city and style meets soul

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Whether you’re chasing that gritty city energy or carving out a green oasis in your space, we’re here to help...

Santa Monica Police Arrest Shooting Suspect After Officer Ambushed Near Downtown Mall

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Man Linked to Waymo Vehicle Gunfire Taken Into Custody Following Tense Manhunt The suspect wanted in connection with a shooting...

Brentwood Weekend Specials: $9 Wine & Street Tacos, Blush-Inspired Lattes & Beauty Swag

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Street Tacos and Wine Meets Self-Care in Brentwood and Santa Monica Brentwood Fine Wines will welcome back local culinary favorite...

Michelin Stars Shine Bright on LA: Somni West Hollywood and Providence Earn Top Honors

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Two Restaurants in Los Angeles Receive Three Stars as Michelin Guide Celebrates Bold Flavors The MICHELIN Guide California 2025 celebrated...

Cherished Culver City Ice Cream Vendor Abducted in Broad Daylight

June 26, 2025

June 26, 2025

Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano’s Disappearance Led To Grassroots Action Ambrocio Lozano, also known in the neighborhood as Enrique, was abducted around...

Brentwood Home by Landry Design Group Wins Top National Architecture Award

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

Landry Design Group Wins Gold Nugget Awards for Brentwood, Crestwood Projects Landry Design Group (LDG) earned two top honors at...

(Video) WISE & Healthy Aging Helps Loved Ones Boost Their Quality of Life

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs Advance the Dignity of Life for Older Adults See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs...

Masked Federal Agents Detain Iranian Asylum Seeker and Wife in Westwood

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

31-Year-Old Woman was Hospitalized After Possible Medical Emergency On Tuesday, June 24, between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., near the...

Los Angeles Leaders Push to Ban Masks for Federal Agents Amid Immigration Raids

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Concerns Grow Over Anonymous ICE and CBP Officers in Los Angeles   A growing coalition of California lawmakers and local leaders...

(Video) Food Fight: Chefs Join Forces to Raise Money to Protect Immigrant Families in Venice

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Estrano, Little Dynamite, Sunday Gravy, Kabob Senpai Answer the Call From Turk’s Pizza Party. Dave Turkel Put This Food Resistance...

Squatter-Plagued Beverly Grove Buildings Could Be Razed After Hazard Cleanup

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Demolition of Three Abandoned Apartments May Begin in Two Weeks Three abandoned apartment buildings in Beverly Grove may soon be...

From Westwood to DTLA, Angelenos March Against Military Escalation in Iran

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Protestors Rally at the Westwood Federal Building This Weekend Following President Donald Trump’s authorization of airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear-related...