The Los Angeles Fire Department is pleased to consider your formal request for an official visit. Such requests are usually from fire, medical or public safety professionals who desire to:

in-person with Fire Department staff:

We welcome an opportunity to schedule your official meeting with any LAFD staff member based upon your needs and their availability.

Tour

a Fire Department facility:

We are pleased to schedule your official tour of any Los Angeles Fire Department service or support facility.

Ride-Along

to observe our personnel in action:

In certain circumstances and after careful review of a formal agency request, LAFD Administration may provide the necessary approval for credentialed fire or emergency service professionals to perform an observational ride-along.

Permission to ride-along is granted only for those on official business who are formally pursuing highly specific work-related goals.

 

Firefighters are always pleased to arrange an informal tour of a neighborhood fire station for any casual visitor.

PLEASE NOTE: Though a spirit of fellowship and camaraderie between LAFD members and those of similar organizations is strongly encouraged, we regretfully cannot permit ride-alongs or offer lodging to those who are simply vacationing or visiting Los Angeles on a casual basis.

To assure that Meetings and Tours are productive and enjoyable, we kindly ask all official visitors to send us formal correspondence on agency letterhead that includes:

• The date and time of your planned visit

• The total number of visitors we should expect

• The full name and professional responsibility (rank, title and/or position held) of each guest

• A specific mention or outline of the objectives to be accomplished, sites to be visited or issues to be discussed

• An e-mail and postal address, telephone and fax number for our contact and coordination with the visitor or group leader

If you are also (or only) seeking a Ride-Along, in addition to the correspondence mentioned above, we kindly ask you to include a cover letter authored by your agency's administration or ranking official. This signed agency letterhead must clearly and distinctly provide ALL of the following:

• A brief personal introduction of the author and visitor
• An affirmation that the visitor is an active-duty member
• A clear stipulation of formal agency approval for this activity
• Specific mention of at least one of the goals to be accomplished
• Cite the authority to offer and officially provide absolute indemnity to the City of Los Angeles and its Fire Department

How Long Will It Take?

Three to eight weeks advance notice is highly desirable, and may prove necessary, depending on the nature of the request.
 
 

What Is The Process?




• The correspondence above should be sent via postal mail or fax to the attention of the Fire Chief at the address below.

• LAFD Administration will review the request to determine how best to assist the visitor and their agency.

• If approved or feasible, a staff member will be assigned as a coordinator.

• The coordinator will contact the visitor or group leader to finalize details.

• The coordinator will arrange a specific itinerary and assist to the extent their schedule allows.

Who Can I Talk To Regarding My Official Visit?

213.978.3810 [ LAFD Community Liaison Officer ]
Monday through Friday from 07:00 - 17:00 (Pacific Time)

Who Should Receive My Written Request and Cover Letter?

Fire Chief
Los Angeles Fire Department
200 North Main Street, Room 1800
Los Angeles, CA 90012 USA

213.978.3815 [ Fax ]

• Los Angeles Convention and Visitor's Bureau  [ request brochure ]
• California Division of Tourism  [ request brochure ]

• Yahoo assistance for Los Angeles visitors:
  • Travel Guide
    
  • Local Directory
    
  • Flight Selection and Reservations
    
  • Hotel Selection and Reservations or Find Closest Accommodation
    
  • Car Rental Selection and Reservations and Driving Laws
    
    
• Visitors not fluent in English should obtain a translator.
• Many visitors arrive at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
• LAX - Local Transit and Transportation Options
  
• LAX - Detailed Airport Terminal Maps
  
• LAX - Interactive Airport Area Map
  
• LAX - Driving Directions from Airport
  
• LAX - Ten Day Weather Forecast
  
• Some domestic visitors find Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport (BUR) convenient.
• BUR - CityGuide
  
• BUR - Detailed Airport Terminal Map
  
• BUR - Airport Vicinity Map and Interactive Area Map
  
• BUR - Ten Day Weather Forecast
  
• Los Angeles Union Station, located 0.5 miles from LAFD Headquarters is directly served on a frequent basis by:
  • Amtrak Intercity Rail
    
  • Metrolink Commuter Rail
    
  • Metro Red Line Subway
    
  • Metro Gold Line Light Rail
    
• Staff availability may prohibit us from offering local ground transportation assistance.
• It is possible to Experience LA though local public transit. Fare, route and schedule information is available for all local Bus, Subway and Light Rail Systems.
• LAFD Headquarters is located at 200 North Main Street in the City Hall East building. All visitors and their possessions may be subject to a security search and screening.
• LAFD Headquarters visitors will find convenient public parking available on a pay-per-use basis at the nearby Los Angeles Mall. We are pleased to provide driving directions to their subterranean parking facility.
• Parking space at our secure subterranean Headquarters lot is severely limited. To gain access, you must provide detailed vehicle information and obtain security clearance from the Community Liaison Office prior to arrival.
• There is a popular self-guided daytime walking tour of the downtown area.
• The Firemen's Relief Association Store sells LAFD logo souvenirs and apparel.
• The LAFD Museum and Fallen Firefighter Memorial are now open on a limited basis.