One year ago, as families across the country were celebrating the holiday season and ringing in the New Year, 12 wildfires burned nearly 50,000 acres, destroyed 16,000 structures, and forced almost a quarter million evacuations. Initial estimates suggest 31 of our friends and neighbors lost their lives.
This unimaginable tragedy made our community reflect on what it truly means to show up for one another. A year later, we are also looking to the future—how we rebuild, how we protect our community against the next disaster, and the support we need to do so.
At a time when public safety agencies face rising costs, aging equipment, and constant pressure to do more with less, meaningful support can transform what is possible. For first responders, that support can mean lives saved.
Every fire department knows that real preparedness is built long before the alarm sounds—from trained personnel and modern equipment to the systems that ensure both perform reliably under pressure. In Los Angeles County, where over 10 million residents depend on our department, new equipment and resources mean our teams can rotate, rest, and recover after grueling deployments. It means we can expand training programs for new firefighters. It means that during fire season and beyond, we are stronger, more resilient, and more capable than ever before.
Fighting a fire is never an individual effort—it takes a coordinated team, with each person playing a critical role, from firefighters on the front lines to dispatchers, support staff, and community members. Rebuilding a safer, stronger Los Angeles is no different. It takes all of us—residents, first responders, organizations, and communities—working together to restore what was lost, strengthen what remains, and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Our work at the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) was tested like never before, and we wouldn’t have succeeded without partners—near and far—who answered the call when it mattered most. Major organizations across the country stepped forward with time and resources to support our community. Among them, Philip Morris International U.S. contributed $1 million, helping LACoFD purchase a new Type 3 wildland fire engine for one of the hardest-hit areas and providing support to residents and firefighters whose homes were damaged.
During the holiday season, giving is always top of mind. But true generosity is not measured by a single act or announcement—it’s measured by the lasting impact it has on a community. A year later, Los Angeles is still rebuilding, and there is much work ahead. Individuals and organizations who step up and pitch in help ensure we emerge stronger, safer, and more prepared. Together, these contributions can help the County of Angels soar.
Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone has been a member of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department for 39 years and a chief officer for the past 27 years. Prior to his appointment by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors as the tenth Fire Chief and Forester and Fire Warden, Chief Marrone served as the Interim Fire Chief.
Chief Marrone leads one of the largest metropolitan emergency services agencies in the United States, providing traditional fire and life safety services to more than 4.1 million residents and commercial business customers in 60 cities served by the Department, in addition to 120 unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County within its 2,311 square-mile jurisdiction. The Department operates out of 176 fire stations, with more than 5,200 emergency responders and business professionals operating with an annual budget of just over $1.8 billion.
Copyright © 2026 California Business Journal. All Rights Reserved.
For California Business Journal Disclaimers, go to /terms-conditions/.
