The London Fire Department (LFD) provides fire prevention, life preservation, and technical rescue services to the city of London, Ontario, Canada.
History A volunteer fire department was formed in 1842, two years following the incorporation of the village of London. The first fire station was erected on Carling Street in 1847.
The volunteer department was replaced by the permanent London Fire Department on April 1, 1873, following the Great Fire of London in 1845 which destroyed over 300 buildings. The department has since run 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Firefighters with the London Fire Department are all members of the London Professional Fire Firefighters Association, Local 142 of the IAFF.
Operations
Apparatus The London Fire Department has a diverse apparatus fleet laid out across the city's 14 fire stations. Various vehicles perform specialized tasks to fight fires, prevent injury, and preserve life. +Stations and Apparatus*Station #ServingEngine Company Rescue Company Tanker Company Truck Company Haz-Mat Unit Service Unit Car Unit Marine & Zodiac Units Tech Support Unit Service Unit Fire Investigation Unit Command UnitDowntown and Citywide (Headquarters)Engine 1Truck 1Haz-Mat 1Car 1Service 1Fire Investigation Unit 1Command 1East London (Old East Village)Engine 2 Engine 21
Engine 22
Engine 24
Engine 25Rescue 2Tanker 25Truck 20Marine & Zodiac 2Command 2Southwest London (Westmount)Engine 3Marine & Zodiac 3Central London (Bishop Hellmuth District)Engine 4Southeast London (Pond Mills)Engine 5Tanker 5Tech Support 1West LondonEngine 6Truck 6Command 6Northeast London (Huron Heights)Engine 7Truck 7North London (University/Masonville)Engine 8Service 8South London (White Oaks/Westminster)Engine 9Truck 9Command 9East London (Argyle)Engine 10LambethEngine 11Tanker 11Southwest London (Byron)Engine 12Northeast London (Northdale/Fanshawe)Engine 13Northwest London (Fox Hollow/White Hills)Engine 14 *Spare vehicles are italicized.
Teams
In addition to standard firefighting and rescue services, some employees of LFD further divided into four specialized teams: ice/water rescue, hazardous materials, technical/rope rescue, and fire communications.
Budget As per the 2020-2023 Multi-Year Budget, the London Fire Department's services and assets are paid for by the taxpayers of London at an approximate rate of 80 cents a day per citizen.City of London Multi-Year Budget, 2020-2023. Fire & Rescue Services. https://london.ca/sites/default/files/2021-01/Fire%20and%20Rescue%20Services.pdf In 2021, the department's yearly net budget was .
Included in the budget is funding for London's new Fire Station 15, built to serve the southeast part of the city (specifically the growing Summerside area). Station 15, which will cost approximately $3.85 million to build, is planned to open in 2025, and will include an engine.
References