Lake Forest relies on city and county public safety agencies, with additional regional hospital emergency departments nearby.
## Emergency number - **Emergency phone:** **911**
## Police - **Orange County Sheriff's Department** provides law enforcement services to Lake Forest under contract. - Local policing is coordinated through the city's police services structure and sheriff substation arrangements serving the community.
## Fire and rescue - **Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA)** provides fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical response, wildfire readiness, and community safety programs. - OCFA stations serving Lake Forest and neighboring communities respond to structure fires, traffic collisions, medical emergencies, and vegetation fires.
## Ambulance and emergency medical transport - Paramedic and ambulance response is integrated with the county fire and EMS system. - Patients are commonly transported to nearby hospitals such as **MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center**, **Hoag Hospital Irvine**, and other regional facilities depending on need and destination protocols.
## Disaster preparedness - Risks in the area can include: - **wildfire** in and around open space and foothill areas - **earthquakes** - **extreme heat** - occasional **winter storm impacts** and localized flooding - Preparedness information is typically coordinated by: - the **City of Lake Forest** - **Orange County Fire Authority** - **Orange County Sheriff's Department** - county emergency management resources
## Nearby emergency departments | Facility | Area | Notes | |---|---|---| | MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center | Laguna Hills | Full-service hospital with emergency department | | Hoag Hospital Irvine | Irvine | Regional acute-care hospital | | Mission Hospital Mission Viejo | Mission Viejo | Major South Orange County hospital |
Residents should verify the nearest urgent care or emergency department for their insurance network and medical needs.