Field Operations
Operations
The Fresno Fire Department protects and serves a community of more than 540,000 people, delivering emergency response to a broad range of incidents such as fires, emergency medical calls, water rescues, urban search and rescue operations, and hazardous materials incidents. The department operates 21 fire stations throughout the City of Fresno and the Fig Garden Fire Protection District, covering an area of more than 128 square miles.
Beyond city limits, Fresno firefighters assist neighboring fire agencies across Fresno County through established mutual aid and automatic aid agreements.
The department staffs 110 uniformed firefighters daily and operates 28 companies, including 19 engine companies, five ladder truck companies, and four squad companies. Operations are divided into four battalions, each led by a Battalion Chief.
To support responses to complex and specialized incidents, the Fresno Fire Department maintains dedicated special operations teams, including Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), a Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT), an Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR), and a Water Rescue Team (WRT). These teams consist of specially trained firefighters assigned additional responsibilities to ensure a comprehensive all-hazards response capability.
AIRCRAFT RESCUE
The City of Fresno’s Fresno Air Terminal, also known as the Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FYI), is an Index C Airport with nine air passenger carriers offering Valley passengers 16 non-stop destinations in the US and Mexico. Annually, more than 1.5 million travelers and passengers pass through FYI. Along with commercial flights, FYI also served two of the world’s largest air cargo carriers United Parcel Service and Federal Express aircraft. The airport has a General Aviation component serviced by several Fixed Based Operators.
The Fresno Fire Department (FFD) has an established Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Specialty Team, which works in conjunction with Airport Public Safety. At FYI, FFD ARFF members are cross-trained in aircraft and structural firefighting, prepared to respond to fire and medical emergencies. These specialized firefighters receive certified training for incidents unique to an airport. This special category of firefighting involves response, hazard mitigation, evacuation, and possible rescue of passengers and crew of an aircraft involved in an airport ground emergency. The department staffs two specially equipped ARFF apparatus staffed by FFD qualified personnel 24/7/365 to meet FAA 139 index requirements. The ARFF station is centrally located within the airport and has been housing members since 1962.
URBAN SEARCH AND
RESCUE TEAM
The Fresno Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team provides special rescue operations for the City of Fresno and in Region 5 of the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA). The USAR team is a certified Type-1 Heavy Rescue located at fire station 11. Qualified USAR members hold the following certifications.
WATER RESCUE TEAM
The City of Fresno’s Fresno Air Terminal, also known as the Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FYI), is an Index C Airport with nine air passenger carriers offering Valley passengers 16 non-stop destinations in the US and Mexico. Annually, more than 1.5 million travelers and passengers pass through FYI. Along with commercial flights, FYI also served two of the world’s largest air cargo carriers United Parcel Service and Federal Express aircraft. The airport has a General Aviation component serviced by several Fixed Based Operators.
The Fresno Fire Department (FFD) has an established Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Specialty Team, which works in conjunction with Airport Public Safety. At FYI, FFD ARFF members are cross-trained in aircraft and structural firefighting, prepared to respond to fire and medical emergencies. These specialized firefighters receive certified training for incidents unique to an airport. This special category of firefighting involves response, hazard mitigation, evacuation, and possible rescue of passengers and crew of an aircraft involved in an airport ground emergency. The department staffs two specially equipped ARFF apparatus staffed by FFD qualified personnel 24/7/365 to meet FAA 139 index requirements. The ARFF station is centrally located within the airport and has been housing members since 1962.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAM
The Fresno City Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) has embraced an all-hazards approach to emergency response to ensure that our community receives a robust, competent level of service to all hazardous materials events. The HMRT is comprised of sixty personnel trained to the Hazardous Materials Technician and/or Specialist requirements. Fourteen personnel are on duty each day with a minimum of nine of those persons trained to the Technician/Specialist level. The HMRT utilizes 2 OES Type 1 Hazmat response rigs and a Mass Decontamination trailer. In the event of a hazardous materials incident, the HMRT is deployed from two strategically located fire stations. The deployment plan requires the dispatch of the closest First Responder Operation (FRO) response company in conjunction with the HMRT to hazardous materials emergencies. The Fresno City Hazardous Materials Response Teams have partnered with the State Office of Emergency Services (OES) to deploy regionally or statewide to support any jurisdiction through the State Master Mutual Aid System. The local fire agencies, including the FFD, schedule regular cross-training of all hazardous materials response technicians/specialists to maintain familiarity and competency with each agency’s personnel, equipment, and response capabilities.