Fire Districts

San Diego is composed of a total of 13 separate fire districts, which provide protection against fire by any available means. These districts may supply ambulance and emergency medical and rescue services to their encompassed region.

SDTEF Report
=== Municipal Reviews of San Miguel, Borrego Springs, and San Diego County Fire Protection Districts === The San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation (SDTEF), the research-oriented branch of SDCTA, completed its review of the three following fire districts: San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District (SMCFPD), Borrego Springs Fire Protection District (BSFPD), and San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD).

SDTEF periodically conducts reviews of municipal agencies in San Diego County. This is to provide taxpayers and the general public some basic information about their local governments. This report, like other municipal reviews, summarizes a shared and validated baseline of information for all stakeholders so that public policy recommendations by any organization, including SDCTA, can be based on well-researched and factual findings.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
San Diego Fire-Rescue triages 9-1-1 calls and sends a first responder to approximately 65 percent of 9-1-1 calls; those in which there is a potentially life-threatening condition where every minute counts. San Diego County EMS Policy requires two paramedics respond to all life-threatening calls for service. Ambulances are staffed with one emergency medical technician (EMT) and one paramedic and first responders have a minimum of one firefighter/paramedic on every crew.

List of San Diego Fire Stations
With 49 fire stations strategically placed throughout neighborhoods, and an average of 42 ambulances throughout the city, a first responder often arrives on the scene of an emergency more quickly than an ambulance. The paramedic/firefighter is soon reinforced by an ambulance with a paramedic on board.

Falck US
Falck is the company that services EMS for the City of San Diego. The company has more than 33,000 highly skilled professionals working round-the-clock with local authorities to deliver reliable and efficient emergency response services in 29 countries worldwide. Falck also works closely with industry leaders, colleagues and local partners to develop new solutions and new ways to deliver emergency response and health care services anywhere in the world.

Alpine
The Alpine Fire Protection District (FPD) provides structural fire protection and advanced life support-level emergency medical service (EMS) within the unincorporated east county community of Alpine.

The District covers approximately 27.5 square miles including the Alpine town center and National Forest and State Park lands. The FPD was formed in 1957 to established governmental structure for a volunteer fire organization that had provided emergency services within the Alpine area since 1947. Alpine FPD Map

Bontia-Sunnyside
The Bonita-Sunnyside Fire Protection District (FPD) provides structural fire protection, advanced life support-level (ALS) emergency medical service (EMS), rescue services, and hazardous materials response within the unincorporated south county community of Bonita.

The District was formed in 1950 to establish governmental structure for the Upper Sweetwater Valley Volunteer Fire Company that had provided emergency services to the unincorporated Sweetwater Valley area since 1939. The FPD covers approximately seven square miles and includes residential and commercial development in the community of Bonita; County and Regional Parklands; and conservation areas overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in collaboration with the Sweetwater Unit of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. Bonita-Sunnyside FPD Map

Borrego Springs
The Borrego Springs Fire Protection District (FPD) provides structural fire protection, advanced life support-level (ALS) emergency medical service (EMS), and rescue services in the unincorporated east county community of Borrego Springs.

The District, which was formed in 1961, covers approximately 310 square miles that includes the Borrego Springs town center and significant territory within the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. The FPD has an estimated permanent population of approximately 3,800; however, the population expands by 10,000 or more seasonal residents during winter months and more than a million tourists visit the dessert community each year. Borrego Springs FPD Map

Deer Springs
Deer Springs Fire Protection District Mission Statement: It is the mission of the Deer Springs Fire Protection District to protect life, property and the environment in our service area. We shall provide the best fire, rescue, emergency medical, safety education and hazard prevention service possible. Pursuant to upholding the public trust, the foundation of all Board decisions will incorporate integrity, honesty and sound fiscal policy.

"The fire fighting services of the District are provided under contract with CAL FIRE, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. These highly trained professionals operate under the direction of Chief Nick Brown who also serves as our fire chief. Our number of residents in our District has grown steadily over the past few years and your Fire District has kept pace. We now have three stations plus one staffed by CAL FIRE that serve our 13,000 residents." Deer Springs FPD Map

Lakeside
Established in 1963, the Lakeside Fire Protection District (LFPD) has continued to be an ever-evolving organization focused on providing quality services. The District serves a population of approximately 62,000 residents. The District’s coverage area is comprised of the California communities of Lakeside, Johnstown, Blossom Valley, Flinn Springs, Pepper Drive, Eucalyptus Hills, Wildcat Canyon, and other areas of unincorporated El Cajon. All of these are set within the unincorporated area of San Diego County. Lakeside FPD Map

Lower Sweetwater
The Lower Sweetwater Fire Protection District (FPD) is responsible for structural fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) within the unincorporated south county community of Lincoln Acres.

The 298-acre Lincoln Acres area—and the FPD—are surrounded by the Cities of Chula Vista and National City. The FPD contracts with the City of National City to provide fire protection and EMS within the District. The Lower Sweetwater FPD was formed in 1944 to provide emergency services in unincorporated territory between the Cities of San Diego, National City, and Chula Vista. Lower Sweetwater FPD Map

North County
The North County Fire Protection District (NCFPD) provides structural fire protection, and advanced life support-level (ALS) emergency medical services (EMS) within the unincorporated north county communities of Fallbrook, Bonsall, and Rainbow.

The District includes approximately 86 square miles and incorporates a volunteer operation in the community of Rainbow. NCFPD emerged from a 1987 reorganization that dissolved the Fallbrook FPD and County Service Area No. 7 (Rainbow) and concurrently formed the NCFPD to assume the service responsibilities of both dissolved agencies. North County FPD Map

Rancho Santa Fe
The Rancho Santa Fe (FPD) provides structural fire protection, and advanced life support-level (ALS) emergency medical services (EMS) within an unincorporated area east of the City of Encinitas. The FPD includes approximately 44.03 square miles and covers the unincorporated communities of Rancho Santa Fe, Whispering Palms, Sun Valley, South Pointe Farms, Rancho Cielo, Del Dios, 4SRanch, Crosby, Santa Fe Valley, Fairbanks Ranch, Del Mar Country Club, and Elfin Forest/Harmony Grove.

An all volunteer Rancho Santa Fe FPD was established in the 1940s; the Board of Supervisors appointed the first 3-member FPD Board of Commissioners in October 1946. Rancho Santa Fe FPD Map

San Diego County
San Diego County Fire was formed in 2008 to unify the administrative support, communications, and training of 15 rural fire agencies and extend around-the-clock protection to 1.5 million acres of the unincorporated county.

Today, San Diego County Fire strives to provide the highest level of service using an Integrated Cooperative Regional Fire Protection System; delivering fire protection and emergency services to over 40 communities through 35 fire stations and over 500 first responders. San Diego County FPD Map

San Marcos
The San Marcos Fire Protection District (FPD) is a subsidiary district to the City of San Marcos. The FPD provides structural fire protection and advanced life support-level (ALS) emergency medical services (EMS) within the City of San Marcos; unincorporated territory adjacent to the city’s northern boundary; discontiguous unincorporated areas between the City of San Marcos and the City of Escondido; and the community of Lake San Marcos, which is an unincorporated island within the City of San Marcos.

An all-volunteer FPD had been established in the unincorporated area in 1936. When the City of San Marcos incorporated in 1963, the FPD provided services within the City as well as surrounding unincorporated areas. Unincorporated territory within the FPD continued to annex into the City until 1987. San Marcos FPD Map

San Miguel Consolidated
The San Miguel Consolidation Fire Protection District (SMCFPD) provides structural fire protection and advanced life support-level (ALS) emergency medical services (EMS) within approximately 46 square miles in the unincorporated east county.

The current SMCFPD is the product of a series of consolidations among fire protection districts. In 1988, the Grossmont-Mt. Helix FPD and Spring Valley FPD consolidated to form the original San Miguel Consolidated FPD. In 1994, the Bostonia and Crest FPDs consolidated to form the East County FPD—which subsequently consolidated with the San Miguel Consolidated FPD in 2008. San Miguel Consolidated FPD Map

Valley Center
The Valley Center Fire Protection District (VCFPD) provides structural fire protection and advanced life support-level (ALS) emergency medical services (EMS) within approximately 85 square miles in the unincorporated community of Valley Center. The VCFPD was formed in 1982 to provide public governance and access to public funds to a volunteer fire protection organization. Valley Center FPD Map

Vista
The Vista Fire Protection District (FPD) provides fire protection and advanced life supportlevel (ALS) emergency medical service (EMS) within approximately 17 square miles of unincorporated territory adjacent to the City of Vista. Services within the FPD are provided by the City of Vista Fire Department under a City/ District Agreement that proportionally assigns costs of providing fire protection services.

The Vista FPD was formed in 1944 to provide governmental structure for a volunteer fire organization that operated in unincorporated north county. The FPD was significantly diminished in 1963 when the City of Vista incorporated and twelve square miles were detached from the district to prevent duplication of responsibility. Vista FPD Map