The Los Angeles City Fire Department has asked FilmLA’s help announcing an official change in department policy. The change affects permit seekers looking to make Fire Department personnel adjustments in the 24 hours prior to the start of scheduled filming.
Most permits approved by the Los Angeles City Fire Department can take advantage of the department’s Spot Check program. Shoots ineligible for the Spot Check program are assigned a Uniformed Fire Safety Officer (UFSO) for direct set supervision.
Of late, the Fire Department has been inundated with late-breaking changes to filming schedules, leading to many requests to adjust UFSO assignments with less than adequate time for the department to provide notice to the assigned UFSO.
UFSO assignment and scheduling is based on the production’s filming activities and stated needs at the time the permit application is submitted to FilmLA, three or more business days prior to the intended start of filming.
Effective immediately, FilmLA and the City Fire Department will only consider requests to adjust UFSO assignment up until 2:00 p.m. on the last business day before the officer’s scheduled start. For filming scheduled to begin on a Monday, for example, change requests must be processed on Friday.
Requests received after 2:00 p.m. cannot be considered, and FilmLA has been asked to reject such requests by default. The Fire Department will not offer refunds for portions of UFSO shifts that were previously scheduled, paid for, and not canceled before the 2:00 p.m. deadline. In those cases, existing mandatory minimum fees will apply.
Questions about this change in Fire Department policy should be directed to Capt. Felipe Villegas at lafdfilm@lacity.org. We thank you for your attention to this very important matter.