The Fire Suppression Division is directed by Operations/Assistant William F. Singleton, who coordinates and commands
all Fire Rescue emergency activities. The Special Operations Chief, the Training Division Chief and Three Shift Commanders report directly to the Operations/Assistant
Chief. The Shift Commanders in turn, provide 24 hour oversight and supervision to 18 Battalion Chiefs. The Shifty Commanders, through their Battalion Chiefs,
provide supervision, leadership and direction to 816 career uniformed fire and rescue personnel and 175 volunteer personnel located in 41 fire stations
and 2 stand-alone rescue stations.
Each battalion chief oversees a fire/rescue battalion in which personnel work shifts of 24 hours on duty and 48 hours off duty. Each station has three
shifts (A, B, & C). Each fire station is coordinated by a career captain or a volunteer chief/captain. All suppression stations respond with a minimum
of a single engine company staffed with a captain, driver/engineer and one or two firefighters.
Other stations are multiple company stations and are staffed by a combination of engines, ladders, aerial platforms, tankers, brush trucks, air trucks,
and a Hazardous Incident Team (HIT) truck. Fire Rescue currently operates 39 advanced life support (ALS) pumpers throughout the county. In addition, all
first responders are equipped with an automatic external defibrillator (AED). Seventy-five percent of our emergency medical technicians have been trained
to initiate IVs.
Fire Rescue personnel's duties are to respond to fire, EMS, and other emergencies as required to protect the citizens and property in the unincorporated
areas of the county, conduct pre-fire planning for all structures other than single- and two-family dwellings, and aid in fire prevention and public education
programs. The Division responds to over 80,000 fires, emergency medical calls, hazardous materials incidents and requests for assistance annually.
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