Downey Fire Department releases 2025 annual report highlighting record call volume

City of Downey photo

DOWNEY — The Downey Fire Department this week released its 2025 annual report, detailing a record year for emergency responses, expanded regional deployments and continued investment in training and community outreach.

According to the report, the department responded to 13,088 incidents in 2025, the highest annual total in its history. Emergency medical calls accounted for the majority of activity, making up 9,037 incidents, or roughly 69% of all responses.

Fire Chief Anthony Hildebrand said the year reflected both increasing service demands and the department’s commitment to maintaining high performance.

“2025 was a year that began with change and continued with service to our community and our region,” Hildebrand said in the report, noting the department’s “highest number of emergency incidents in its history.”

The department operates four fire stations serving approximately 114,000 residents across 12.6 square miles, with an average response time of 6 minutes and 28 seconds.

The report underscores the continued shift in fire service responsibilities toward medical emergencies. In addition to EMS calls, the department handled 967 traffic collisions, 457 “other” fire-related incidents and smaller numbers of structure fires, vehicle fires and hazardous materials responses.

To meet that demand, every fire engine in Downey is staffed with two licensed paramedics, allowing for immediate advanced life support upon arrival.

Engine 61 was the busiest unit in 2025 with 4,115 responses, while Rescue 645 was the busiest ambulance with 3,056 calls.

Beyond city limits, Downey firefighters played a key role in major regional incidents, including deployments to the Eaton and Palisades fires. The department committed multiple engines and its Urban Search and Rescue unit, one of its largest resource deployments to date, while maintaining full service levels within the city.

The Downey Fire Communications Center also continued to serve as a regional hub, dispatching emergency calls for Downey, Compton and Santa Fe Springs. In 2025, the center handled 88,251 calls and dispatched more than 28,000 incidents.

The report highlights significant activity in fire prevention and community engagement.

In 2025, the Fire Prevention Bureau conducted 723 inspections, managed 336 hazardous materials sites and issued 442 permits. Staff also handled more than 1,200 public counter contacts and processed 451 public records requests.

Community outreach included school programs, public events and safety education efforts that reached thousands of residents. The department reported 45 events attended and approximately 2,600 students reached through school field trips and programs.

Training remained a major focus, with firefighters logging 16,117 total training hours in 2025, averaging more than 20 hours per firefighter per month.

The department also reported several internal developments, including multiple promotions across leadership ranks and the addition of a new aerial ladder truck, Truck 611, which replaced a 2005 model and is expected to serve the city for the next two decades.

A new partnership with Warren High School launched a fire technology pathway program, enrolling 147 students in its first year and creating a pipeline for future firefighters.

The department also continued longstanding community traditions, including its 39th annual toy drive, which serves local families during the holiday season.

Looking forward, the department is pursuing accreditation through the Center for Fire Accreditation International, a designation that would place Downey among a select group of agencies nationwide.

Plans also include the anticipated delivery of two new fire engines and continued collaboration with regional healthcare partners on a cardiac arrest response initiative aimed at improving patient outcomes.

City officials said the report reflects a department balancing increased demand with a focus on preparedness and community service.

“The men and women of Downey Fire Department remain committed to providing the highest quality of service,” Hildebrand said.