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109 Fire Chief presented his report , which related to communications , fire fighting and rescue . His sources of information were Picture Division , Chief Officer in charge of earthquake fire and rescue , pilots of the hell- copters , and Senior Captains from Fire Prevention who lived in the Sylmar area, all of the Los Angeles Fire Department . He advised that the City of Los Angeles has approximately 1300 fire fighters on duty at one time , in an area about the size of San Mateo County, or roughly 425 square miles . Total manpower on duty in San Mateo County is approximately 175 to 200 men , with Redwood City having approximately 18 men on duty in the Fire Department around the clock . The timing of the earthquake was such that the normal shift change of 7 : 00 a .m . allowed the advantage of having both shifts available , either in the station house , or en route . There are six helicopters in the Fire Service of the City of Los Angles , with additional in the Police and Sheriff Depart- ments , as well as the Department of Public Works , Los Angeles Fire Department has five radio frequencies , which were jammed during the emergency due to calls of the helicopters , calls for aid , and other fires and emergencies . Most cities in San Mateo County have two radio frequencies , one being the National Fire Mutual Aid , which can be expected to be jammed in similar situation . The main telephone exchange in Los Angeles was put out of service by the earthquake , causing loss of communications , except Police and Fire . Dramatic example of this failure was lack of notification of the emergency at . the Veterans Hospital, which was discovered , approximately one and a half hours after part of the structure collapsed , by a hci_icopter in the area . The crew landed, determined help was needed, and relayed the information to Los Angeles Fire Communications , who dispatched the necessary men and rescue equipment . Helicopters were used for approximately two weeks after the earthquake for fire watch . He described the rescue efforts at the Veterans Hospital , which required hand work to remove debris from possible victims . Material removed approximated a pile 10 feet high over an area covering ten acres . The injured were removed to hospitals primarily by helicopter . The problem of fire was not a great one , and the rapid rupture of gas lines prevented many fires as mainly occurred in street mains and thereby lessened control problems , although some destruction of buildings by fire was noted from the air in one shopping center . Lack of water created a problem, but by use of many tank wagons which were brought into the area, were able to keep any fires under control . He reported that the Los Angeles Police Department did a tremendous job , and there was no looting .