Merger of Hawthorne Fire Dept. With County Advances

The Hawthorne Fire Department is expected to become part of the Los Angeles County Fire Department by early next year after the City Council approved the transfer on a 3-to-1 vote this week.

The transfer will save the city at least $1 million a year, which is sorely needed for a city that nearly went bankrupt last year with a $10.5-million shortfall.

With tight funds, the city has been unable to buy the equipment it needs or hire more firefighters, said fire Capt. Mike Mungovan.

“We were supposed to have two engines replaced in the last six years and neither has been replaced,” he said. “An ambulance was supposed to be replaced in 1992 because we replace them every five years, and we’re still using the same one.”

If approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles County Local Agency Formation Commission, all the equipment and firefighters will be transferred to the county. No jobs will be lost.