Los Angeles County Fire Dept

[Guest]

Can you explain the numbering system used LA County?

Engine 5166 is a reserve engine that is assigned to Station 166 in El Monte. All reserve apparatus are numbered with a "5" in front of the station it is assigned to. Example: E5166 here is out of station 166, E582 would be out of station 82. When they are used by an unit that has its rig in the shops, it takes that units identity, ie: Engine 5166 being used by E48, would be identified on the radio as E48. When the need arises to man additional engines, due to major brush fires, Red Flag Weather conditions etc, off duty crews will man these rigs and then they are ID'ed by their assigned number. In this case, E5166 was part of a Strike Team of 5 Engines on a brush fire in the County. It is ID'ed as E5166 during that time. If there are more than 1 reserve piece at one station, they would be marked 5xx-A, as in E532A, E532B and so on.

There are 600 series engines, but they are mainly Training Rigs and will only be used in EXTREME cases due to their advanced age.

Hope that helps,