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Get to know the team behind the badge—and what it means to serve with purpose.

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About

The City of Carlsbad Fire Department is an all-risk, all-threat first responder agency safeguarding lives, property and the environment through 24-hour fire, rescue and emergency medical services.

The Fire Department is divided into two bureaus:

Emergency Operations is the largest bureau within the department and is responsible for fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical service (EMS) delivery, lifeguard service/marine safety and disaster mitigation.

The Community Risk Reduction Bureau is divided into two sections:

To learn more about our programs and services, click the icons below. 

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EMERGENCY
OPERATIONS

Felix smoke alarm

 

COMMUNITY
RISK REDUCTION

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EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
& RESILIENCE

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LIFEGUARD
SERVICE

 

Mission, Motto and Values 

Our Mission

Enhance the quality of life for all who live, work and play in the City of Carlsbad through excellence in emergency and support services.

Our Motto

Serving with kindness.

Our Values

  • Professionalism - Honoring the Carlsbad Fire Department’s Oath of Office, Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.
  • Service - Dedicated and compassionate response to the people we serve and each other.
  • Integrity - A respectful and unified team dedicated to both team cohesion and strong moral principles at all times.

What's new? 

Empty headingFire Department improvements

Recent news

Fire zone map approved

On Tuesday the Carlsbad City Council adopted Cal Fire’s updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map, which classifies areas of the city that are most susceptible to wildfire. Areas are categorized as moderate, high, or very high.
Post Date:06/18/2025

On Tuesday the Carlsbad City Council adopted Cal Fire’s updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone map, which classifies areas of the city that are most susceptible to wildfire. Areas are categorized as moderate, high, or very high.

  • In areas designated as high or very high severity, new construction must adhere to ignition-resistant building standards. 
  • Property sellers must disclose the zone designation in real estate sales, with inspections required. 

According to Cal Fire, the map is not expected to impact insurance coverage, as insurance companies use their own risk models.

While more areas of Carlsbad are now included in higher-hazard severity zones, the map does not account for the city’s ongoing fire mitigation efforts, such as the city’s annual Hazard Reduction Program to require vegetation management on vacant parcels, brush management in the preserves and in city owned urban forests, and public outreach to help homeowners reduce fire risk. 

A full-time wildfire mitigation specialist works with residents and homeowners associations to maintain defensible space. Communities are also encouraged to pursue Firewise USA recognition.

Cal Fire’s map was last updated in 2007 and this new edition reflects updated fire conditions such as vegetation, terrain and weather. Under state law, the city could not alter the map in a way that reduced the fire hazard severity zones. In cases where the map splits a building between classifications, the more severe hazard classification will apply.

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