Fire Hydrant Service in Los Angeles County

Is that hydrant yours?

Check ownership first. Water service in Los Angeles County is split among many purveyors, including LADWP inside the City of Los Angeles and the County Waterworks Districts (run by LA County Public Works) in places such as Malibu, Topanga, Acton and the Antelope Valley. A hydrant on the street usually belongs to the water system. One fed by a private fire service main on your side of the connection usually belongs to you.

Private hydrants are easy to overlook. Inside the City of Los Angeles alone, about 5,000 hydrants are not maintained by LADWP; they are the responsibility of LAWA or private owners. If one sits on your lot, the testing and repairs are yours to arrange. Not sure where the line falls? Ask your water purveyor.

What we do on a private hydrant

NFPA 24 covers private fire service mains and the hydrants on them. NFPA 25 sets the upkeep: every private hydrant gets an inspection and a flow test once a year.

• Inspection. The technician checks the barrel, caps, threads, outlets and operating nut for damage, leaks and corrosion, then confirms the hydrant opens, closes and drains the way it should.
• Flow testing. Water is flowed and pressures are read by NFPA 291 methods. That standard also sets bonnet colors by flow class.
• Repair. Leaking packing, stuck stems, worn seats and damaged caps can often be fixed in place.
• Installation. New or replacement hydrants on a private fire main.

Replacement isn't always the answer. Our Carlsbad case study on hydrant repair versus a $10,000 replacement quote weighs a full swap against a simple repack. For more on each job, see annual fire hydrant testing in Los Angeles County, fire hydrant repair and fire hydrant installations. Hydrants often share a main with the building's sprinklers, so fire sprinkler service may apply too.

Who does the work? Our California jobs are performed by Hedrick Fire Protection, which holds C-16 (fire protection) and C-10 (electrical) contractor licenses and is licensed by the California State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems.

Your fire authority depends on the address

One county, several departments.

• Unincorporated areas and 59 contract cities: the Los Angeles County Fire Department (the Consolidated Fire Protection District). Its Fire Prevention Division does annual business inspections, new construction field inspections and minor plan checks through North, Central and East Regional Units.
• City of Los Angeles: LAFD. Its Fire Development Services section handles plan review, permit approvals and new construction field inspections, with requests made through inspect.lafd.org.
• Cities with their own bureau, such as Burbank: that city's fire prevention office. See our Burbank fire hydrant page.

Codes vary by jurisdiction. Confirm the current edition with your fire authority before a new install.

Fire hydrant pages near you

Start at the Los Angeles County hub, or go to fire hydrant service in Glendale and fire hydrant service in City of Industry.

Fire hydrant questions

Who is responsible for testing a private fire hydrant?

Usually the property owner. Hydrants on a private fire service main generally sit outside the water purveyor's care, so you schedule the inspection and flow test.

How often does a private hydrant need testing?

Once a year. That's the NFPA 25 interval.

Does County Fire cover my property in the City of Los Angeles?

Usually not. Inside Los Angeles city limits the fire department is LAFD, and cities such as Burbank run their own fire prevention bureaus.

What do the colors on a hydrant bonnet mean?

Flow class. NFPA 291 sets the color code, and a flow test shows which class a hydrant belongs in.

Can a leaking hydrant be repaired?

Often, yes. Packing, caps and seats can usually be fixed in place, and the technician can tell you on site whether repair or replacement makes more sense for that hydrant.

To schedule a hydrant test or get a quote, call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com