To our many readers and members,
This time of year certainly is busy for most families, especially those with children. The end of summer is fast approaching and the start of school is coming quickly for many. The Long Beach Fire Department is well involved with the City's current Budget challenges and discussions at various levels with City Management, the Firefighters Association, the Lifeguard Association, IAM and other labor groups. This is in addition to the public workshops and community meetings to inform the public of the current financial conditions that have led to some serious reductions in service brought on by our current budget reductions of over $3.2 million dollars.
The Command Staff and I have met with the public safety associations on numerous occasions to keep them well informed of the challenges with which we are faced as we fund staffing levels.
Regardless of the many budget distractions, it is increasingly important that the service that the LBFD provides, whether emergency or non-emergency, fire, EMS, Haz-Mat, rescue, marine safety, communications, USAR, public education or fire prevention and inspection programs, services for the critical needs of today's society continue to be available for all the citizens and visitors to Long Beach.
By remaining focused on all the hard work and public safety functions we at LBFD provide, we hope to continually demonstrate why we are funded and staffed in a manner to provide all the service required for a safe Long Beach.
Fire Prevention Week will be held the week of October 4th - 10th; most of the Long Beach fire stations will conduct open houses. Take the time to visit your local fire station and see the tools, equipment and apparatus that allow your incredible Firefighters to perform their jobs safely and efficiently. Be sure to view or click on our Community Service and Training sites to see the many things that are going on. Our websites are: firechannel.org/blog and lbfdtraining.com
Thank you to each of you that support the LBFD and the variety of services we provide in all our Bureaus and Divisions.
Always, Be Safe!!
David W. Ellis
Fire Chief
OUR MISSION:
The mission of the Long Beach Fire Department is to protect lives, property and the environment, improving the quality of life and safety of the community.
OUR CORE SERVICES:
Maintain citywide presence to effectively respond to fire, medical, beach, and waterway emergencies.
Provide effective prevention, education, and preparedness services.
Coordinate the City's disaster management and Homeland Security efforts.
Improve the quality of life for our community.
OUR VALUES:
In Dealing With Our Community and Customers We:
· Recognize that we are here to serve the needs of the community and its citizens;
· Strive to provide the best service possible, in a professional and positive manner;
· Operate with a high sense of ethics, honesty, and integrity;
· Treat our customers with respect, dignity, and fairness; and,
· Are responsive to the changing needs of our community and the individuals we serve.
