About Fresno Fire
The Fire Department has received national recognition for its innovative and progressive approach to alternate methods of providing municipal fire protection, such as a municipal fire sprinkler ordinance. The Department consists of 408 total permanent positions: 17 chief officers; 337 sworn, safety firefighters; 19 sworn, non-safety inspectors; and 35 non-sworn, professional, and support personnel. Non-sworn personnel have been integrated into the management structure of the Department.
The Fire Department successfully completed a major station relocation program and serves the city from 23 strategically located fire stations. In 2007 the Department responded to a total of 35,463 incidents.
The water system continues to be a strong factor in Fresno’s fire protection service. Over 200 wells, four of which are equipped with emergency diesel engines, ensure an uninterrupted fire flow throughout the system of loops and grids. A minimum operational pressure of 35 psi is maintained throughout the system.
In recent years, the Fresno Fire Department has been forced to operate with reduced revenues, as have many other fire protection agencies throughout California and the nation. Although personnel reductions have occurred, an acceptable level of fire protection and basic life support services have been maintained through fire station relocations, mutual response agreements with neighboring fire protections agencies, and urban growth management wherein developers are responsible for providing a fire station and fire equipment when development exceeds the Fire Department’s fire response capability.
Fresno Fire Department Org. Chart (in pdf format)