ANTHONY C. MARRONE
FIRE CHIEF
FORESTER & FIRE WARDEN
"Proud Protectors of Life,
the Environment, and Property"
February 13, 2026
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
City of Bellflower
1600 Civic Center Drive
Bellflower, CA 90706
Dear City Manager Smoot:
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
FIRE DEPARTMENT
1320 NORTH EASTERN AVENUE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90063-3294
(323) 881-2401
www. fi re . l a co u n tY . q ov
SUMMARY OF JANUARY 13, 2026, MEETING
xi
CAlIFoRt0-
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
HILDA L. SOLIS, CHAIR
FIRST DISTRICT
HOLLY J. MITCHELL LINDSEY P. HORVATH
SECOND DISTRICT THIRD DISTRICT
JANICE HAHN KATHRYN BARGER
FOURTH DISTRICT FIFTH DISTRICT
This letter serves as a summary and follow-up to the meeting between the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County (District) and the City of Bellflower (City) held on January 13, 2026, via Microsoft Teams. The purpose of this letter is to memorialize and confirm key points discussed during the meeting.
Los Angeles County Fire Code
During the meeting between the City and the District, the City confirmed its intent to not adopt the Los Angeles County Fire Code (LACFC) and to instead continue utilizing the California Fire Code.
Plan Reviews
The City indicated it will not allow the District to perform plan reviews and intends to continue to utilize an independent plan reviewer for these services because of previous long review times (2019 In -N -Out and Fire Museum projects). As promised at our meeting on March 6, 2025, the District conducted an analysis of turnaround times for the period of March 10, 2025, through October 31, 2025. The District reviewed 26 plans for building, fire sprinkler, and fire alarm projects, with the average turnaround time of five business days or less. As stated in the meeting dated January 13, 2026, the District has resolved the turnaround time issue and is within industry standards.
AGOURA HILLS
ARTESIA
AZUSA
BALDWIN PARK
BELL
BELL GARDENS
BELLFLOWER
BRADBURY
CALABASAS
SERVING THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND THE CITIES OF:
CARSON
CERRITOS
CLAREMONT
COMMERCE
COVINA
CUDAHY
DIAMOND BAR
DUARTE
EL MONTE
GARDENA
GLENDORA
HAWAIIAN GARDENS
HAWTHORNE
HERMOSA BEACH
HIDDEN HILLS
HUNTINGTON PARK
INDUSTRY
INGLEWOOD
IRWINDALE
LA CANADA-FLINTRIDGE
LA HABRA
LA MIRADA
LA PUENTE
LAKEWOOD
LANCASTER
LAWNDALE
LOMITA
LYNWOOD
MALIBU
MAYWOOD
NORWALK
PALMDALE
PALOS VERDES ESTATES
PARAMOUNT
PICO RIVERA
POMONA
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
ROLLING HILLS
ROLLING HILLS ESTATES
ROSEMEAD
SAN DIMAS
SANTA CLARITA
SIGNAL HILL
SOUTH EL MONTE
SOUTH GATE
TEMPLE CITY
VERNON
WALNUT
WEST HOLLYWOOD
WESTLAKE VILLAGE
WHITTIER
Ryan Smoot, City Manager
February 13, 2026
The District remains committed to providing fire and life safety services to the City and its residents and is concerned that the City's actions could potentially place lives and public safety at risk. Therefore, the District continues to demand the City:
• Immediately adopt the LACFC.
• Have the City immediately amend its Municipal Code through Ordinance No. 1422, designating the Fire Chief of the District as the Fire Chief of the City, not the City Manager.
• Have the District be the sole plan reviewer and approval authority for the City except for R-3 dwellings.
We look forward to continuing discussions to move towards a resolution that adheres to all applicable laws and ordinances.
If this letter represents inaccurate statements, please advise the District immediately.
If you have any questions, please contact me at (323) 881-6180 or via email at Anthony.Marrone(c�fire.lacounty.gov, or your staff may contact Assistant Fire Chief Richard Stillwagon at (213) 598-6479 or via email at [email protected].
Very truly yours,
ANTHONY C. MARRONE, FIRE CHIEF
ACM:gc
c: Chloe Cheney -Rice
1 of 2
Berger, Karl H.Berger, Karl H.Berger, Karl H.Berger, Karl H.Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 8:50:59Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 8:50:59Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 8:50:59Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 8:50:59 AM Pacific Daylight TimeAM Pacific Daylight TimeAM Pacific Daylight TimeAM Pacific Daylight Time Subject:Subject:Subject:Subject:RE: Bellflower
Date:Date:Date:Date:Monday, March 9, 2026 at 17:08:15 Pacific Daylight Time From:From:From:From:David J. Farkas
To:To:To:To:Campen, Timothy E., Fortenbach, Solange
CC:CC:CC:CC:Berger, Karl H., Alex J. Van Roekel
Attachments:Attachments:Attachments:Attachments:image005.png, image006.png, image007.png, image008.png, image009.png [EXTERNAL]
Counsel: we represent the Fire District with respect to the ongoing dispute with the City of Bellflower that is referenced below. I note that your colleague, Mr. Berger, requested that you principally be consulted regarding this matter going forward. To that end, please let me know when you have time later this week or next week to discuss the dispute and how we can ideally resolve it without resort to litigation.
Thanks.
Best,
David J. Farkas
Attorney at Law
NOSSAMAN LLP
777 South Figueroa Street, 34th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
[email protected]
Admitted only in California, Maryland
T 213.612.7800 F 213.612.7801
D 213.612.7898
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From:From:From:From: Berger, Karl H.
Sent:Sent:Sent:Sent: Thursday, October 24, 2024 6:44 PM To:To:To:To: Simon K. Moradzadeh
Cc:Cc:Cc:Cc: Jenny Tam ; Campen, Timothy E. ; Fortenbach, Solange Subject:Subject:Subject:Subject: Re: Bellflower
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Hello –
No, I do not have any questions. I think the better angle for the Fire District would be to arrange for a meeting with the City – which the City has continuously asked for since 2019.
Unless County Counsel wishes to reach out directly to me, there’s no need to contact me in the future. My Assistant and Deputy City Attorneys (copied) will happily respond to any further communications from you.
Thanks.
2 of 2
From: From: From: From: "Simon K. Moradzadeh"
Date: Date: Date: Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 12:33 PM To: To: To: To: "Berger, Karl H."
Cc: Cc: Cc: Cc: Jenny Tam
Subject: Subject: Subject: Subject: Bellflower
[EXTERNAL][EXTERNAL][EXTERNAL][EXTERNAL]
Dear Mr. Berger,
My ohice will be assisting Ms. Tam (copied) and the LA County Counsel’s Ohice on behalf of the County of Los Angeles (“County”) and the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County (“Fire District”) in connection with discussions with your client, the City of Bellflower. I wanted to introduce myself and let you know that the County and Fire District continue to review this matter, including your September 26 letter. We will provide a response as soon as possible.
In the interim, please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything you would like to discuss. You can reach me directly at 310.556.7827.
All of the County and Fire District’s rights and remedies are expressly reserved.
Kind regards,
Simon
Simon K. MoradzadehSimon K. MoradzadehSimon K. MoradzadehSimon K. Moradzadeh
ASSOCIATE
Glaser Weil Fink Howard Jordan & Shapiro
LLP
10250 Constellation Blvd., 19th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
glaserweil.com
[email protected]
TTTT 310.556.7827
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