San Diego Fire-Rescue Department

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of San Diego, California, USA. [ [http://www.sandiego.gov/fireandems/index.shtml San Diego Fire Department Official Website] ] As of June 2008, it consists of 47 fire stations covering over 330 square miles. For medical transportation, the department contracts San Diego Medical Services Enterprise, or SDMSE. Forty six SDMSE units as well as personnel are housed throughout the city's fire stations. SDFD Fire Station 44 is home to two Hazmat response units responsible for the assessment all such incidents throughout San Diego County. The department also operates the city's two fire helicopters, known as Copter 1 and Copter 2.

Low staffing levels

The San Diego Fire Department is somewhat understaffed compared to comparable fire departments. For example, the fire department has about one firefighter per 1469 residents, compared to one fire fighter per 421 residents in San Francisco. [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060326/news_lz1e26declerc.html Heavy on calls, light on resources - Strapped San Diego Fire Department refused accreditation] , San Diego Union Tribune] Currently, the San Diego Fire Department is the lowest paid department in southern California. In comparison with other major cities with populations over 1 million, such as Los Angeles, the starting pay for City of San Diego Fire Fighter is around $46,000.

It is not clear if these low staffing levels played in a role in the disastrous October 2007 California wildfires

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://flickr.com/photos/southerncalifornian/collections/72157600579384732/ Fire/EMS image collection]