When you call 911, you expect help to be there. For Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 4, making sure that happens requires much more than fire stations, trucks and equipment. It requires trained firefighters and medical personnel ready to respond when our community needs them.
That’s why hiring additional fire and medical personnel is the number one goal in LPFPD4’s 2026 Strategic Plan.
Serving a Growing Community
LPFPD4 serves approximately 72,000 residents across 225 square miles and more than 24,000 households. From fire suppression and medical emergencies to vehicle crashes, rescue operations, hazardous materials incidents and severe weather response, our personnel must be prepared for a wide range of emergencies across a large service area. And as our community continues to grow, so does the demand placed on our emergency services.
Over the past decade, LPFPD4 has made significant progress in meeting that demand. The District has grown from just five full-time employees to 73 today, including dedicated Fire Prevention and Training/Safety personnel. But our work isn’t finished.
What Does Staffing Have to Do With Your Emergency Response?
A fire truck is only one part of an emergency response. It takes trained people to operate that truck, establish a water supply, enter a burning structure, conduct search and rescue operations, provide emergency medical assistance, manage traffic and hazards, operate specialized equipment and coordinate an emergency scene. Many incidents require several of these functions to happen at the same time.
Having adequate staffing also helps LPFPD4 maintain coverage across the District when crews are already responding to another emergency. Simply put: staffing is service readiness.
Our Five-Year Staffing Goal
Today, LPFPD4 is a combination fire department made up of 73 full-time, 16 part-time and 42 volunteer personnel.
As part of our 2026 Strategic Plan, the District has established a five-year goal to:
- Hire 15 additional full-time fire and medical personnel
- Recruit 30 additional volunteer firefighters
The 15 full-time positions will be added incrementally over the five-year planning period, helping LPFPD4 improve staffing levels and response capabilities as community needs continue to grow.
This isn’t simply about adding employees. It’s about making sure the people, stations, apparatus and equipment we’ve invested in work together to provide the highest level of emergency service possible.
Building Our Own Pipeline
Finding qualified firefighters is a challenge facing fire departments across the country, particularly as volunteerism continues to decline. Rather than simply waiting for candidates to come to us, LPFPD4 is investing in new ways to introduce people to the fire service and prepare them to serve.
Our Louisiana High School Fire Training Program gives students an opportunity to earn fire service credits before graduation, creating a direct pipeline of trained candidates.
LPFPD4 has also established an in-house Firefighter Recruit Academy, providing comprehensive training in fire suppression, rescue operations, hazardous materials response, EMS and real-world emergency scenarios.
Together, these programs create multiple pathways for people in our community to become part of the fire service—whether as a career or volunteer firefighter.
Readiness Happens Every Day
Emergency readiness doesn’t begin when the alarm sounds. Every day, LPFPD4 personnel train, inspect equipment, maintain apparatus, prepare stations and make sure crews have what they need to respond safely and effectively. Those activities may happen behind the scenes, but they are an essential part of the service our community depends on.
Our Strategic Plan is designed to make sure LPFPD4 doesn’t simply respond to today’s needs. We’re planning for tomorrows. By investing in our people, training and recruitment today, we’re building a stronger, more prepared fire district for the growing community we are proud to serve. Our Family Protecting Your Family.
