Carlsbad Fire Department At A Glance


Call Summary (2005-2006)

Call Type

Percent of Calls

Fire-Related

3% (218 incidents)

Hazardous Conditions

3% (213 incidents)

Service Calls/False Alarms

26% (1,887 incidents)

EMS/Rescue Incidents

68% (4,927 incidents)

Fire Department Suppression Personnel

Job Title

Number of Employees

Firefighter

1

Paramedic/Firefighter

35

Fire Engineer

18

Fire Captain

18

EMS Paramedic Nurse Coord.

1

Battalion Chief

4

Division Chief

1

Fire Chief

1

The Carlsbad Fire Department provides 24/7 fire, rescue and Emergency Medical Services utilizing 3 platoons on alternating 24-hour shifts. The total number of fire suppression personnel on duty each day is 24 personnel with a Shift Battalion Chief responsible for operational oversight and readiness.

Fire Department Personnel By Station

  • Fire Stations 1, 2 and 5 have five personnel assigned to each station in order to staff the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Engine and ambulance.
  • Fire Stations 3, 4 and 6 have three personnel assigned to staff the ALS Engine.

Fire Department Apparatus and Equipment Status

The Carlsbad Fire Department has a broad array of apparatus, all of which at the time of purchase met or exceeded industry standards. These include the following:

  • Five front-line Type I structure engines, with an average age of three years.
  • Two reserve Type I structure engines, 11 years old
    • Both reserve apparatus are fully equipped.
  • Two Type III brush engines, 1 year and 10 years old
    • Both have a fully enclosed cab with mobile pumping capability
    • Both have four-wheel drive capability
  • Four ambulances
    • Three are front line, with one reserve
  • One Aerial Apparatus (Ladder Truck) (To be delivered Spring 2007)
  • One Heavy Rescue Vehicle

The Carlsbad Fire Department is utilizing existing technology to its maximum potential in the areas of fire apparatus, equipment, Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) and emergency medical equipment.

The City of Carlsbad provides each firefighter with Nomex work uniforms, structure fire protective clothing and Wildland fire protective clothing. All personnel assigned to an apparatus have a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), Chemical Protective clothing, Weapons of Mass Destruction Treatment Kits and a broad range of communications devices.

In regard to communications, the Fire Department is migrating to the regionally-adopted communication standard, which utilizes Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) technology. This technology enables dispatch centers to provide closest unit response and Mobile Data Computers (MDCs) in all Fire apparatus for dispatch and electronic mapping access and capabilities.