LOS ANGELES, CA — This week, AB 2152, authored by Assemblymember Mark González, was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. This bill was introduced to support the development of critical fire infrastructure. Firefighters are the backbone of our communities, and across our great state, calls have hit historic highs, with firefighters responding to emergencies at unprecedented rates. While call volume has surged, fire department infrastructure has not exactly kept up.
Starting January 1st, fire stations approved under this review process will have stronger protections against expensive, frivolous California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lawsuits, allowing for faster project development.
“At the end of the day, this bill is about something pretty simple: making sure we have enough fire stations so firefighters can do their jobs safely and effectively," said Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez. “Right now, the demand is growing, the infrastructure is aging, and the gap between the two is getting harder to ignore. I want to thank the Governor for signing AB 2152, allowing fire stations to be built without the fear of frivolous litigation."
1.4 Million More Residents and 6 Fewer Stations:
Across our state, localities struggle to construct new fire stations due to rising costs, procedural delays, and even CEQA litigation. This problem is especially present in the City of Los Angeles. In 1960, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) had 112 fire stations that serviced 2.5 million residents; they now only have 106 stations servicing 3.9 million residents. That is 6 fewer stations servicing 1.4 million more people.
Additionally, in 1969, 100,985 incidents occurred that required fire department response; in 2023, there were 504,604 incidents. Due to a lack of stations and increased density, the LAFD has also been unable to meet the 4-minute travel time standard for 55% of emergency medical incidents. In 2018, it was 6:51, & in 2022, it was 7:53.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) conducted a comprehensive study in 2024 and determined that the LAFD needs 62 new LAFD Fire Stations and 4,000 additional Firefighters to meet the current and realistic demands of the City.
"A recent analysis showed that the LAFD needs 62 additional fire stations to meet the needs of our residents," said Doug Coates, President, United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, Local 112. "As UFLAC leads efforts to raise revenue for new stations, AB 2152 will bring critical certainty so we can build new stations efficiently. I would like to thank Assemblymember González for his leadership."
"I would like to thank Assemblymember Gonzalez for his leadership on AB 2152," said Darrell Roberts, President, California Professional Firefighters. “AB 2152 will help expedite fire station construction across the state, improving services for residents and protecting firefighters."
The Last Time LAFD Built a Station, it was Sued… Twice:
Cities like Los Angeles have been working to bolster fire infrastructure for decades but permitting issues and litigation have halted them. The last station built by LAFD was in Van Nuys and was sued, delaying the project for nearly 2 years and wasting valuable taxpayer dollars. The city estimates that this delay cost nearly $2 million in legal fees, delays, and staff time.
This is not the only example of this occurring. Other stations in Montecito and San Diego have also been delayed by threats of CEQA litigation.
AB 2152 Moves the Needle:
This law is not about ignoring the environment. Instead, it carefully balances the need for essential public safety infrastructure with the concerns of the community. Under this law, each station can be reviewed and deemed an “essential local fire station" by the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. In doing so, the project itself will be granted streamlined judicial review – meaning if a CEQA lawsuit were to be filed, the courts would resolve it within 270 days.
Additionally, if entities continue to sue the project under frivolous or false pretenses, the courts can deem them a “vexatious litigant," resulting in additional protections from the court towards the project.
Assemblymember Mark González is the Assembly Majority Whip. He serves on the Committees on Appropriations, Health, Public Safety, Rules, and Utilities & Energy. He represents the 54th District, composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Commerce, Montebello, and Vernon.
CONTACT: Kyle Johnson; Kyle.Johnson@asm.ca.gov; (925) 549-2030
Nina Suh-Toma; Nina.Suh-Toma@asm.ca.gov
