RELEASE: Congresswoman Friedman Unveils $500,000 Federal Investment to Replace Aging West Hollywood Fire Station
Help replace 73-year-old Station 8, which is deemed vulnerable to collapse in an earthquake
ABOVE: Friedman announcing a new $500,000 federal investment to help replace Station 8.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA — Today, May 11, 2026, U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) announced a new $500,000 federal investment to help replace LA County Fire Station 8 in West Hollywood. The 73-year-old station has been officially deemed vulnerable to collapse in a major earthquake and is too small for modern fire apparatus.
A recording of the press announcement can be found here.
Station 8 was built in 1953 and was constructed with rigid, outdated concrete that does not meet modern seismic standards. In 2023, LA County flagged it as one of 33 county-owned buildings vulnerable to collapse in an earthquake. The station’s response area includes the Sunset Strip, Santa Monica Boulevard, and some of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Los Angeles County.
The announcement comes as Los Angeles continues to recover from the devastating January 2025 wildfires, which laid bare the urgent need for modernized fire infrastructure across the region. LA County firefighters were on the front lines of the Palisades and Eaton fires, putting their lives at risk to protect communities across the county.
“The firefighters of Station 8 have spent 73 years walking out of this building and into danger to protect this community. They've done it without hesitation, without complaint, and from a building where they lay their heads at night knowing it's been deemed vulnerable to collapse,” said Congresswoman Friedman (CA-30). “The men and women who work here deserve a station that's safe, modern, and built for the emergencies of today — not 1953. This $500,000 federal investment is a down payment on that promise, and I'm going to keep fighting until it's finished.”
"This community investment is exactly what voters had in mind — making sure LA County is building for the future, protecting residents, and supporting the first responders who show up for us every single day," said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. "Thanks go to Congresswoman Laura Friedman for her partnership and leadership in securing this federal funding. I’m also proud that $19.5 million of Measure E funding will go toward this effort, bringing us close to the full amount needed to make this project a reality."
The investment reflects a coordinated effort between federal, county, and local leaders. Supervisor Horvath was a critical partner in securing the investment. Mayor Heilman and the City of West Hollywood have been pushing for a modernized Station 8 for years.
Today’s announcement builds on Friedman’s ongoing community safety investments. In February 2026, Friedman secured more than $1 million to modernize the Verdugo Fire Communications Center. This is the nerve center for emergency dispatch serving more than 944,000 residents across 13 cities in Los Angeles County. That investment upgraded a dispatch system running on 1997 technology that fielded 2,121 calls in a single day during the January fires or a call every 11 seconds at peak volume.
Friedman was joined today by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, and Firefighters of LA County Fire Station 8.
BELOW: Friedman touring Station 8 with local firefighters.
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