As we reflect on 2016 we want to express our gratitude and wish all of you and your families a safe, prosperous, and healthy New Year.  
  
We would like to take this opportunity to update you on some of the significant accomplishments over the past year and those planned for 2017. Without everyone's support, these accomplishments would not have been possible.

"It was my honor to promote 215 members this year and many more promotions are planned for next year.  The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) family is proud of all our newly promoted members and the contributions they have made and will make to our Department." - Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas.

To reduce the number of Firefighter vacancies, we graduated five Recruit Training Classes this year, sending 232 recruits to the field. Our next graduation will be on March 2, 2017, when Class #16-1 graduates from Drill Tower 81. Firefighter hiring remains a top priority.   
  
During Fiscal Year 2016-2017 your LAFD continues to work hard to restore our Department, thus allowing us to better serve you. The LAFD Strategic Plan (58% complete) continues to drive the Department towards completion of many significant objectives aimed at continuing our restoration. 

While responding to nearly 465,000 calls a year, we put significant wear and tear on our emergency vehicles. To address this, we placed 46 new vehicles in service this year; with 18 RAs, 17 Engines, 10 Trucks and 14 Command Vehicles coming next year. 

Over this past year, the success of the Nurse Practitioner Response Unit (NPRU) Pilot Program has given us the opportunity to partner with stakeholders such as Cedars Sinai Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Hospital. 

These accomplishments are a result of a sustained collaborative effort by Mayor Garcetti, City Council, Fire Commission, United Firefighters of Los Angeles City and the Chief Officers Association.

"I am excited about another year of challenges that we will face together as part of the finest Fire Department in the world!" - LAFD Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas.