The Stentorians and Los Bomberos, the Black and Latino firefighter groups, respectively, had called for the federal inquiry, and an organization representing women firefighters expressed support for the probe. The LAFD has long been plagued by allegations of racial and gender bias. In 1974, a federal consent decree required that nonwhite people make up at least half of new hires by the department annually. AdvertisementToday, about 54% of the roughly 3,700-member agency’s firefighters and civilian workers are nonwhite, according to the department. However, just 3.5% of the firefighter ranks are women, and complaints about racial bias beyond the hiring figures have persisted.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 18, 2021 02:37 UTC