Fresno Fire Department Headquarters

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The Fresno Fire Department, established in 1877, is one of the United States' oldest fire departments. The Fresno Fire Department, consisting of 405 permanent positions, has received national recognition for its innovative approach to alternative methods of providing municipal fire protection. The Department now serves the city from 23 strategically located fire stations after completing a station relocation program.

In 2009, Fresno Fire Department responded to a total of 37,635 incident calls. As many other fire protection agencies across the United States have experienced in recent years, the Fresno Fire Department has had to operate with reduced revenues, however, although reductions have occurred, they have maintained their level of fire protection for their city.

According to Ken Shockley, a local historian, Fresno is a large agricultural based community. Shockley said that one hundred years ago, you would see the Fresno Fire Department Headquarters dock with many trucks loading potatoes, onions and other various produce. Now, instead of workers moving agricultural products, the building is filled with the people and agencies relevant to the Fresno Fire Department.

Gary Eberhard, a Public Information Officer with the Fresno Fire Department, gave FDNNTV a tour of the Fire Department Headquarters located at 911 H. Street in Fresno, California.  Eberhard claims that the Headquarters building, designed for the continuity of operations and ability to work at a high pace, was first established in 1903.

What is now the executive office area, including the Chief's Office, used to contain the office of the manager of the produce storage warehouse.The administration section of the building includes offices for personnel working with the burn foundation, CERT, the Fire Corps, Trauma Intervention and other programs. "We really have created the ability to give people office space to help us and support us in our fire services," Gary Eberhard remarked.

The Fresno Fire Department's Administrative Services Division is responsible for the following areas:
•    Development and communication of departmental policies and procedures
•    All personnel activities and maintenance of records
•    Budget and payroll matters
•    Purchasing and accounting matters
•    Inventory and maintenance of fire station supplies and equipment, including personnel firefighting protective equipment

While the front part of building is used for administration, the back is dedicated to training, where the Prevention and Training Chief's offices are located. The Fresno Fire Department has its own Training Division whose mission is to protect and put service above all else. Their vision is for Fresno Fire to be recognized as a Standard of Excellence in the Fire Service.

Core Values Include:
    Teamwork
    Training for excellence    Leave it better than you found it
    Everyone goes home safe

    Trust
    Treat others the way we want to be treated
    Do the right thing
    Walk the talk

    Commitment
    United in our Mission
    Everyone plays an important role
    Our work represents us

The Fresno Fire Department Headquarters also houses a "State of the Art" Kitchen. Eberhard explained, "We like to be able to cook and we provide a good area to do that, and at the same time, to entertain and put on good training where we can bring people in and train and eat."

The far end of the building includes a special space to commemorate the long history of Fresno Fire, which will eventually be made into a museum.

For more information about Fresno Fire Department, please visit http://www.fresno.gov/Government/DepartmentDirectory/Fire/default.htm.

Additional Information about the Fresno Fire Department (from the Fresno Fire Department Website)

Fire Suppression and Emergency Response Division:

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF)

The Fresno Fire Department has established an Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Specialty Team consisting of 19 Fire Control 5 certified team members and is located within the City of Fresno's Yosemite International Airport.

Services include:
ARFF Response
Hazardous Materials Incidents
First Responder Calls
Structure Fires Within Airport Boundaries
Geographical Information System Team

Responsible for ensuring all department maps are up to date and accurate, the Fresno Fire Department Geographical Information System Team takes all forms of non-scaled data on hand drawn sheets of paper and converts them to digitized data that can be accessed and updated. This new geographical data is carried on every Fresno fire apparatus.

Hazardous Materials Team
The Fresno Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team consists of sixty personnel trained with Hazardous Materials Technician and/or Specialist requirements and utilizes 2 OES Type 1 Hazmat response rigs and a Mass Decontamination trailer. The Fresno HMRT has partnered with the State Office of Emergency Services (OES) to deploy either regionally or statewide to support any jurisdiction through the State Master Mutual Aid System.

Fire Prevention and Investigative Services:

Fire Inspection
Required to perform periodic inspections to ensure compliance with fire and life safety regulations, the Fresno Fire Department inspects all commercial, educational, institutional and multi-family residential buildings within the City of Fresno.

In late 1984, the Fresno Fire Department applied for and received a federal grant offered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which went towards a community volunteer fire prevention organization: Burn Aware.

Burn Aware School Fire Safety Program

Programs include:
"Personal Fire Safety" (Stop, Drop & Roll & Cool A Burn)
"Exit Drills in the Home" (E.D.I.T.H)
"Principals of Fire Safety (Quiz Show)

These programs are presented to first, second and third grade students within the City of Fresno. In the 2007-2009 school years, approximately 40,000 students in both private and public schools will have seen the three fire safety programs.

Freddie the Fire Engine

A great tool for teaching children about fire safety, Freddie the Fire Engine is a fully animated fire truck robot that is accompanied by two Fresno City Fire Department members who speak about 911; Stop, Drop, and Roll; and many other safety issues.

Juvenile Fire Education Program

The Juvenile Fire Education Program, offered to both adults and children, is designed to evaluate children's fire-setting behavior, increase fire awareness for families, and offer referrals to mental health professionals if necessary. A branch of the FFD's Investigation Division, this programs ultimate goal is to prevent juveniles from becoming involved with the Juvenile Justice System.

Class offers:
Fire Risk Assessment
Juvenile Fire Education Classes
Parent Fire Education Classes
Additional Assistance

Smoke Alarm Program

Through the Fresno Fire Department, the Central California Burn Aware program provides free smoke alarms to residents of Fresno, California with a single family home or mobile home. Smoke alarms are installed by members of the Fresno Fire Department and a free home fire-safety check is also available upon request.


Author:William Leatherman - Video, Renee Marquart - Text