LOS ANGELES, CA – Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield today made the following statement regarding the announcement of Assistant Chief Ralph Terrazas as Mayor Eric Garcetti’s appointee to serve as the next Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department:

“I congratulate Assistant Chief Ralph Terrazas on his appointment by Mayor Eric Garcetti to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department, pending approval by the City Council.

From the medical emergencies that make up the highest volume call request received by LAFD, to house fires and brush fires, West Valley residents understand the vital importance of LA’s firefighters and the services they provide to public safety. I was proud to fight for important increases in funding to fire services in this year’s city budget, but it is crucial that the next administration works to address recruitment, staffing levels and response times, and recommit itself to innovation and technology.

I am confident that Assistant Chief Terrazas, a native of Los Angeles with three decades of service to the Fire Department, will have the intelligence, nimble mindset, and willpower to make the necessary changes at the department that will keep our City safe.

I thank Chief Featherstone for his leadership over the last year and I look forward to working with Assistant Chief Terrazas to build an even better LAFD that will provide true peace of mind to Angelenos in the Valley and throughout Los Angeles.”