Protecting Life, Environment & Property
From our beginning as a group of 17 volunteers with a hand-drawn soda and acid cart pulled to a fire by anyone available, the Chula Vista Fire Department has grown into a highly professional, trained force of over 170 men and women. In 1919, a “Model T” fire engine was purchased, and the first fire station was opened at 316 Third Avenue. It was at this location that 17 men signed this statement, "I hereby agree to uphold these by-laws and carry out my duties as a member of the Chula Vista Fire Department". On May 2, 1921, the City of Chula Vista with a population of 1,700 had established its fire department.
Just two years later, the station moved to City Hall, then located at 292 Third Avenue, and the first full-time paid firefighter was hired. The “Model T” served for a few years and was traded for a 1923 Seagrave pumper, the “Old Goose”. This pumper is still owned by the Fire Department and is awaiting a much-needed updated restoration.
Eventually, the volunteers were disbanded and became a social club, and eleven full-time firefighters were hired to provide fire protection for the City. In 1948, the Department purchased a new fire engine and moved into a new station at 447 F Street. This is the current site of Fire Station 1 and serves as a Battalion Headquarters. Since that time, the Chula Vista Fire Department expanded services and grew its network of fire stations to four.
In 1986, the City of Chula Vista annexed the Montgomery Fire Protection District located in the southwest region of the City. This agency provided fire protection for 22,000 residents living in a 5 square mile portion of San Diego County. This fifth fire station stands at 391 Oxford Street.
In 1991, temporary Fire Station 6 opened for service at 975 Lane Avenue in Eastlake, and in 2005, was replaced by the current fire station located at 605 Mount Miguel Road. Station 6 now serves the communities of Rolling Hills Ranch, San Miguel Ranch, Bonita Long Canyon, Eastlake Shores, and Bella Lago. The fire station houses a brush engine and a paramedic ambulance company.
On October 6, 2001, Fire Station 4 was relocated from 1601 Elmhurst to 850 Paseo Ranchero. This location also serves as the Chula Vista Fire Department Training Facility.
Station 7, located near Otay Ranch High School, opened on September 11, 2003, with a statue and special hero memorial to the 343 FDNY firefighters who perished at 9/11. Station 7 provides service for the Otay Ranch community and is housed with a truck and engine company. Station 7 is the Battalion Headquarters for the eastern part of the City.
Station 8 opened for service in December 2006, serving the Eastlake communities of The Woods, Eastlake Vistas, Eastlake Greens, and Eastlake Trails. This station is located in The Woods at the intersection of Woods Drive and Hawthorn Creek and houses one engine company.
Fire Station 9 was opened in the spring of 2006, at 266 East Oneida Street. Station 9 provides service to the communities of Castle Park and Otay, located in the southwest part of the City. It is important to note that this station was the former Fire Station 3 and had been closed after a new Fire Station 3 was built and located at 1410 Brandywine Avenue on June 23, 2001. The former fire station building was shuttered for years until its’ reopening and re-labeling to Station 9. This station provides an additional key engine company to supplement the service provided by the busiest Fire Stations, which are Station 1 and Station 5.
In March of 2008, the Fire Department contracted fire and emergency medical dispatch services with the City of San Diego Fire Rescue Department. With this contract came upgraded response capabilities including Automatic Vehicle Location and enhanced mutual aid capabilities.
The Fire Department completed its transition to a new level of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) which provides a Paramedic or Advanced Life Support (ALS) on all responses from the department. In July of 2013, the Fire Department began providing this level of care via five engines located at stations 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. By June of 2015, the Fire Department began providing ALS level of care via the remaining engines located at stations 1, 2, 3, and 4. In June 2016, Truck 51 and 57 were added as ALS providers making the Fire Department fully ALS capable – two years ahead of schedule.
In August of 2018, City Council adopted an addendum to the previously approved Fire Facility Master Plan. This plan provides for fire station placement throughout the City to meet Growth Management Oversight Commission response thresholds, as well as National Fire Protection Association response thresholds (NFPA 1710). NFPA 1710 standards are more stringent and ensure a higher level of safety for firefighters, and a higher survivability rate of citizens requiring medical care.
In July 2017, Engine 51 was the first engine company to be staffed with 4 firefighters known as 4.0 staffing. In May 2018, 4.0 staffing began on Engine 52, 55, and 57. Funding for 4.0 staffing was solidified after the June 5, 2018 vote to pass Measure A. In February 2019, the Fire Department established a new Strategic Quick Unit Apparatus Delivery (SQUAD) response unit. The SQUAD unit serves areas of the City with high call volume, or areas that are vacated due to another unit going out of district for fuel, mechanical repairs, or training. The SQUAD unit will also supplement areas of the City known to have poor response times as indicated by data collected by the Fire Department. In January 2020, Engine 56 was staffed with 4.0. On May 22, 2020, Fire Station 10 opened for service with a four-person crew staffing Engine 60, and 4.0 staffing was implemented on Engine 54 and 58. In June of 2020, the second SQUAD will be placed into service.
On April 9, 2021, The City of Chula Vista in partnership with Bonita, and Imperial Beach Fire Departments began fire department based ambulance service. Each of the 10 ambulances is staffed with 1 Paramedic and 1 Emergency Medical Technician.
Currently, the Chula Vista Fire Department’s ten fire stations respond to nearly 23,000 calls for service annually, while serving a population of 275,000, and covering an area over 52 square miles. Across the City each and every day, there are 49 firefighters on duty with an additional 2 firefighters per SQUAD unit during the day.
In addition to providing emergency medical response and firefighting services to the citizens of the community, the Fire Department also operates training and fire prevention divisions. The Training Division provides training in firefighting and rescue skills to the Department as well as personnel from other parts of the region. These training services ensure that Fire Department personnel meet the necessary training requirements in order to deliver core capabilities to the community within the proper safety standards.
The Fire Prevention Division provides comprehensive fire safety engineering plan review and inspection services so that new development and existing businesses are compliant with the latest fire regulations ensuring the safety of the community. Fire Prevention also provides 24-hour coverage for origin and cause fire investigation services.
The Chula Vista Fire Department holds a rich tradition of service since its establishment on May 2, 1921. The Department has undergone major changes over the years including the implementation of breathing apparatus and other safety equipment, to the establishment of Emergency Medical Services, to land annexations requiring Department expansion. Under each circumstance, adaptability and innovation were a key component provided by Department members with the utmost of success each and every time.
While many traditions of days past are no longer practiced, the spirit of hard work, dedication, and care, still resound through the actions of the members of the Chula Vista Fire Department.
