The San Diego Fire–Rescue Department (SDFD) is the full-service fire department of San Diego, California, United States. It was established on August 5, 1889. The department responds to over 183,000 calls per year. It covers 343 square miles of service area, including 17 miles of coastline. It is the third-largest municipal fire department in California, after the Los Angeles Fire Department and Orange County Fire Authority.
Organization The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is divided into two major divisions: Emergency Operations and Support Services. Each of these divisions are commanded by an assistant chief who oversees several subdivisions.
Operations The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Operations division oversees daily operations out of 50 fire stations, organized into seven battalions. Each Battalion is commanded by a Battalion Chief and daily operations are commanded by a Deputy Chief of Operations, known as a Shift Commander.
Additionally, the department operates a squad apparatus out of a specialty facility in the San Pasqual Valley area of the city. The department also operates a fire station responsible for San Diego International Airport.
Special operations The San Diego Fire-Rescue Special Operations Division is commanded by a Deputy Chief that oversees multiple special programs including the Technical Rescue Team, Air Operations, the Metro Arson Strike Team (fire investigators), the Hazardous Materials team, the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team, and the Special Trauma and Rescue (STAR/ SWAT medic) team.
Lifeguard services The San Diego Lifeguard Service operates as a division of the Fire-Rescue Department and is commanded by the Lifeguard Chief. The Lifeguard division operates nine permanent lifeguard stations and several seasonal towers. The Lifeguard division performs water rescues, cliff rescues, EMS, and operates a Boating Safety Unit with several rescue vessels, some of which have firefighting capabilities.
Support services The Support Services division oversees several subdivisions, including logistics, training and education, the Fire Prevention Bureau, communications, and fiscal/admin services.
History Before the formation of the San Diego Fire Department in 1889, San Diego's fire protection services were largely volunteer based. On May 17, 1869, the Pioneer Hook & Ladder Company was established with a budget of $250 and a volunteer staff of 50 people. By 1887, San Diego had two horse drawn steam fire engines, a hose wagon with 3,500 feet of hose, eleven horses and a large fire bell purchased for $500 (which is currently on display in front of Fire Station 1). However, up until this point, all fire companies within the city were still volunteer and largely unorganized.
In 1888, a series of disastrous fires occurred in the City of San Diego. In addition to these fires, the City of San Diego saw its population boom from 3,000 in 1880 to 30,000 by 1887. A new city charter was adopted in the spring of 1889 where a provision was made for the organization of a paid fire department. The control of this department was vested in a board of fire commissioners, appointed by the mayor. On August 5, 1889, San Diego established a paid, trained and organized fire protection service called the San Diego Fire Department. The newly formed San Diego Fire Department was led by Chief Engineer A.B. Cairnes. In 1894, Chief Cairnes developed and patented an aerial ladder to enable fire departments to rescue occupants from taller buildings in San Diego. The 60-foot, two-section wooden ladder was horse-drawn and was the first aerial ladder of its type in the United States. Fire departments in cities including San Francisco, Chicago, and New York subsequently purchased the apparatus.
By 1917, San Diego had become the first major fire department on the West Coast to be totally mechanized. As a result, the last team of fire horses was turned over to the City Yards where they continued their service hauling trash wagons. Also in 1917, the San Diego Fire Department made world-wide publicity by using an “aeroplane” and the crew from Station 4 as the first aerial fire fighting unit. Ultimately the aircraft did not prove practical, but paved the way for continued progression with new ideas throughout the department.
In 1919, San Diego Fire Department made history once again by building the first gasoline powered fire boat in the world. This boat, named the “Bill Ketner” was built by the Firemen assigned to Station 6, which is now the Fire House Museum. The fire boat had the ability to pump ten powerful hose streams and had two deck guns.
This decade also brought about several firsts for minorities in the San Diego Fire Department. In July 1918, Alfredo Salazar became the first Mexican-American Fireman hired by the department. One year later, history was made again by Timothy Augustus Williams, who became the first Black Fireman for the SDFD.
The Fire Department acquired a new central fire alarm station in June 1929, and generally speaking, good conditions prevailed into 1930. There were 206 Fire Department members and 32 pieces of fire equipment, assigned to 20 stations.
By 1933, the department, as did the city itself, felt the full effects of the depression. Three fire stations were closed (Stations 3, 10, and 12). Equipment was curtailed, new personnel was reduced, many members were retired, and the remaining members were placed on a part-time basis. Although the tough economic times prevailed, good editorials and the threat of higher insurance rates helped get the department back to normal by 1935.
During WWII, San Diego saw a major boom in population and building construction. Homes were being built on canyon rims throughout the city and were fast becoming a fire problem. In July 1942, and again, in September 1944, large wildland fires occurred, damaging or destroying several buildings.
San Diego enjoyed great post-war growth and the department expanded to serve this growth. By 1956, the department had 26 Engine Companies, 2 Truck Companies, 1 Fire Boat, 1 Patrol Boat, 25 Fire Stations and 416 Firefighters. Staff positions were also added, including a Training Officer and various Assistant Chiefs to aid in the training and administration of this “major city” fire department.
In 1951, Fire Chief Courser set forth another milestone for the Fire Department. At a time in our history of high racial tension across the country, Chief Courser issued a standing order that integrated the San Diego Fire Department. Prior to this, the African American firefighters were only permitted to work at station 19 at 35th and Ocean View Blvd. Chief Courser stated, “you will work side by side each other as one, if there was any man not willing to abide by this order then they should quit.” This change in department policy would lead to fairer and more competitive promotional process for minorities on the job.
In July 1969, due to increasing workload and responses being fielded by San Diego Firefighters, a need for more personnel was warranted. The 56-hour workweek and the three-platoon schedule as the department knows it today, was implemented. This new schedule resulted in an expansion of the Fire Department staff by approximately one-third, thus creating “C” Division.
In February 1979, Paramedic service began for the City of San Diego, provided by the medevac corporation. There were only three Paramedic units that were originally placed in the city, Medic-1, Medic-12, and Medic-17. Historically, ambulance service to the citizens of San Diego had been provided by the Police Department. There was very little emergency medical training for these officers and even less pre-hospital care given to their patients. It was not uncommon for one of these ambulances to pick up multiple patients from several locations on their way to the hospital.
July 1980 through August 1981, the SDFD trained and graduated all of its personnel as EMT's. This marked the start of a new modern day image as a fire department. No longer would SDFD just respond to fires and rescues, but medical aid responses would soon steer the department down a new but necessary path.
In 1992, the San Diego Fire Department was designated as the sponsoring agency for San Diego County's newly formed Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 8. It was also during this year when San Diego established a First Responder Paramedic-Engine program.
By 1993, the department had 15 fire engines designated as “Medic-Engines” utilizing a Firefighter/Paramedic. These 15 engine companies were selected based on their run volume and the extended response times by ambulances to their districts. The success of the Firefighter/Paramedic program soon became evident and set the groundwork for the future of the department.
In 1994, the city and department executed a lease with the U.S. Navy at the Camp Nimitz Naval Training Center in Point Loma. Due to the closure of the facility by the Navy, the Fire Department was able to establish its new training facility on the site. Prior to this, training was administered and conducted at numerous sites including Headquarters, Station 28, and Miramar College.
By 1998, sweeping change had come to the San Diego Fire Department. Due to restructuring of City Services, the Lifeguard Service was brought under the command of the Fire Chief, and a new controversial, yet one of a kind, EMS system had been created, known as the San Diego Medical Services Enterprise, eventually leading the department to make all of its engine and truck companies ALS level first responder units.
Companies/Apparatus The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department operates several different types of companies with their assigned apparatus serving specialized functions.
Engine companies The Type I Triple Combination Pump, or Engine Company, as it is most commonly referred to, is the backbone of the San Diego fire service.
The Engine Company is characterized by having hose, water, and a pump. SDFD Engine companies also carry an assortment of ground ladders, hand tools, and a limited complement of rope and power tools for forcible entry, rescue, and auto extrication.
SDFD Engine companies are staffed by four crew members: An officer (Captain), Driver (Engineer), and two firefighters.
An Engine Company's primary fire ground duties are to perform search and rescue, extinguishment of fires, assist with ventilation, salvage, and overhaul.
Truck companies A Truck Company is tasked with rescue, raising ladders, ventilation, forcible entry, securing utilities among many other essential duties which support Engine Companies during the extinguishment of structure fires and emergency incidents. A truck company can be thought of as a giant mobile tool box with specialized equipment, ground ladders and a large aerial ladder with the ability to flow water from. SDFD operates a combination of rear-mount aerial apparatus and tractor-drawn aerial apparatus.
SDFD Truck companies carry a selection of ladders, including a mounted aerial ladder and a minimum of 163 ft of ground ladders. Truck companies also carry an assortment of hand tools, salvage and overhaul equipment, hydraulically powered rescue tools, high & low angle rope rescue equipment, ventilation fans, portable generators, lighting, chain saws, circular saws, and a variety of electric power tools and saws.
SDFD Truck companies are staffed by four crew members: An officer (Captain), Driver (Engineer), and two firefighters.
US&R companies