Fire Services Evaluation

October 14, 2025

The City of Pomona is committed to ensuring that residents continue to receive high-quality, reliable, and fiscally responsible fire and emergency medical services.

In response to recent changes in the service agreement with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), including a letter from LACoFD terminating our contract in April of 2026, the City initiated a comprehensive review of all available options for the future of fire protection in Pomona utilizing subject matter experts in fire services, financial analytics, and facility condition analysis.

As part of this process, the City evaluated several models for service delivery, including:

• Restructuring the existing contract with LACoFD
• Establishing a stand-alone Pomona Fire Department
• Exploring a potential regional partnership with the neighboring City of La Verne

Each option was analyzed for its long-term viability, financial sustainability, governance structure, and ability to maintain and potentially enhance service levels for the community.

Due to significant political challenges surrounding regional collaboration efforts with the City of La Verne, Pomona City staff will move forward with recommending that the Council support pursuing structural modifications to its current service agreement with LACoFD. This approach will focus on ensuring that fire and EMS services remain both effective and financially sustainable for Pomona residents.

The City will continue to provide regular updates and opportunities for community engagement as the fire services project moves forward.  The City wishes to thank the City of La Verne and the La Verne Fire Department for their support and accepting our invitation to participate in the feasibility study of a regionalized fire service model.  

• October 2: The Joint Ad Hoc Committee held its first meeting and found that a regional collaboration model could offer improved services at a lower overall cost.
• October 8–10: Labor organizations, including IAFF Local 1014, CPF, and IAFF, expressed opposition to La Verne’s participation in regional discussions.
• October 13: The second Joint Ad Hoc meeting was held. In light of the newly evolved challenges to the establishment of a stand-alone District, joint ad-hoc committee members agreed to recommend suspension of the process to their respective City Councils so that Pomona could refocus on fundamentally restructuring its service agreement with LACoFD.

 September 25, 2025

The City of Pomona is evaluating different approaches for delivering fire and emergency medical services. At its September 15, 2025, meeting, the Pomona City Council heard the results of a preliminary evaluation from the City’s consulting team and provided direction to conduct further fiscal and operational analysis of fire and EMS service options.

The evaluation was triggered by an April 16th notice from the City’s contract provider of three decades – the Los Angeles County Fire District – that it would terminate its service contract in April of 2026, which would be the middle of the current agreement. The District’s termination letter followed prior notice that it would no longer participate in any cost sharing with the City for items of mutual benefit by the residents of Pomona and Los Angeles County, initially agreed to under a 1994 agreement.

The City projects that taking on the full cost of the agreement would cost the City an additional $14.7 million over four years. These increased charges for service would be unsustainable for the City of Pomona without significantly reducing spending for other essential public services and depleting City reserves.

In response, the City of Pomona engaged Emergency Services Advisors (ESA) to analyze the costs and community service levels associated with remaining with the District and paying the increased contract costs, restarting a stand-alone fire department in the City of Pomona, and forming a new regional fire agency with nearby jurisdictions such as La Verne. According to ESA’s analysis, a new regional fire agency offers the greatest cost saving potential while offering greater economy of scale for enhanced fire and emergency medical services.

The next stage of planning will include participation in a joint ad hoc committee with Mayors and councilmembers from the City of Pomona and the City of La Verne to jointly study participation in a new regional fire agency. Both city councils will review the results of this analysis and recommendations from the joint ad hoc committee before the end of the year.

 Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible that Pomona will not have any fire and emergency medical services?   

No. The residents of Pomona will not lose active, professional fire and emergency medical services. If the City opts for a new regional fire service model in the future, an extension agreement would need to be in place. Los Angeles County Fire has offered to extend services by one year (through July 2027) with an option for two additional six-month extensions. Even if an extension is not agreed to, state law requires an orderly transition of services from one provider to another. No service provider can unilaterally cease providing services until a new service provider is in place.   

Is staying with Los Angeles County Fire still an option?

Yes. The City continues to meet with the Los Angeles County Fire District regarding the options, including staying with the District. However, meeting Los Angeles County Fire’s demands for higher charges would cost the City millions of dollars. These increased charges for service would be unsustainable for the City of Pomona without significantly reducing spending for other public services or depleting City reserves.

Would La Verne be Pomona’s new fire and emergency medical provider?

No. A service contract with La Verne is not under consideration. What is being evaluated and discussed with the City of La Verne is the possible formation of a new regional fire agency that would include both cities.

Would it be cheaper to pay Los Angeles County Fire’s increased charges, compared to the costs of starting a new fire agency?

No. Although costs in the first years of startup may be higher, a regional fire agency could deliver cost savings of up to $35 million over a 10-year period. This analysis includes the initial start-up costs for new personnel and apparatus.  

Would there be any reduction in services or stations?

No. In addition, the City’s evaluation includes options to provide service level enhancements, such as faster deployment of emergency medical services. All fire stations in Pomona are owned by the City.  

Are there examples of regional fire agencies elsewhere?

Yes. There are many examples where fire districts serve multiple jurisdictions, either jointly or via contract. In recent years, many fire agencies have consolidated to provide greater economy of scale and cost efficiencies.

When will the community hear more?

The next stage of planning will include deliberations of a joint ad hoc committee with councilmembers from the City of Pomona and the City of La Verne to study the option of a new regional fire agency. Both city councils will review the results of this analysis and recommendations from the joint ad hoc committee before the end of the year.