Fire Protection District - Special Teams

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) / Paramedic Program

The Paramedic Program currently consists of 53 certified paramedics who provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) services in response to a variety of illnesses and injuries. Paramedics are responsible for patient assessment, contact with local hospitals and advanced treatment that includes the administration of controlled drugs. The District provides a rapid response and assessment of life threatening situations, which result from injury and illness. The responses range from Basic Life Support (BLS), provided by all shift personnel, to Advanced Life Support (ALS) provided by the Fire District's Paramedics.

The service demands on the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) program have increased steadily over the last eight years. The EMS call volume in 1996 when the program began was 3,896; in 2004 it was 6,740. This represents a 73% growth in service demands.

The City population was 116,100 in 1996 and 154,800 in 2004, a 33.3% growth. The ALS responses are 66% of the overall EMS emergencies and continue to increase. The program will be further impacted by growth factors including continued construction of new housing developments, additional senior housing, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, increased responses for accidents and collisions related to the 210 freeway, and EMS service demands at various events.

Fire Apparatus & Equipment Maintenance

Apparatus and Equipment Maintenance consists of 4 full-time personnel, each of whom is certified by ASE, CFMA or the California State Training Institute. Part-time support personnel includes an out-sourcing Apparatus Mechanic, a Student Intern Mechanic, and a Mechanic's Helper. Current maintenance staff respresents over 150 years of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic expericence.

Our 14,000 square foot state-of-the-art Fire Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance Facility officially commenced operations at Fire Station 174 in December 2001. This facility enables staff to conduct steam cleaning, pump testing, dynamometer testing, fabrication, medium paint jobs, overhaul, as well as minor and major repairs. Three full work bay areas in the facility allow for a maintenance program that is centered on an intense preventative maintenance service, in addition to offering greater efficiency and safety of our employees.

Currently, maintenance personnel service six fire stations, over 75 pieces of apparatus, specialized units, stationary stand-by generator sets, rescue tools and saws, small engine appliances, smoke ejectors and compressors. All of this equipment requires scheduled maintenance, warranty, and repairs. Additionally, all new apparatus is designed and outfitted through the maintenance shop.

In addition to normal operating hours for the Maintenance Facility, a 24-hour on-call qualified mechanic responds to emergency repairs and/or assistance needed anywhere in the District.

Hazardous Materials Team

The Hazardous Materials Team consists of 15 Hazardous Material Specialists and 64 certified operational first responders. The Haz Mat Team responds out of Fire Station 173 with additional Specialists assigned to various shifts throughout the other five stations.

The Haz-Mat/Fire Team participates in a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) with four other surrounding agencies including cooperative assistance from the Ontario International Airport Fire Department. This JPA offers additional manpower or equipment as needed in the event of an incident. Participating JPA cities train monthly with quarterly countywide drill/training. Rancho Cucamonga has also employed a Small Quantity Conditionally Exempt Generator (SQCEG) Program through San Bernardino County. The SQCEG program allows the Fire District to mitigate small spills without delay allowing the businesses less down time and reduced clean-up costs.

Technical Rescue Team

The Technical Rescue Team is able to respond without delay to calls requiring technical rescue expertise. The Team is trained in confined space rescue, trench rescue, building collapse and shoring, swift water rescue, high angle rope rescue and large animal rescue. Most of the Team's calls require rope rescue usually located in the steep foothills of the District.

The Tech Rescue Team is certified as a Heavy Level Rescue and was the first Heavy Level Team in San Bernardino County. Additionally, the Tech Rescue Team is part of the California State Office of Emergency Services System, which allows for the Team to be activated throughout the state if needed.

Wildland Fire Protection

A team of firefighters specializing in Wildland Fire Protection strives for public and firefighter safety above all. Working to continue improving the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Protection Plan, a new campaign focuses on the fuel modification front to "Give Firefighters a Fighting Chance." Fire District personnel are working closely with the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Safe Council and homeowners to improve the defensible space around residences in order to give firefighters a chance to save such properties when in danger of wildfire.

Currently, members of the Wildland Fire Protection Program are working closely with the Fire District's Emergency Preparedness and Response Program to develop evacuation and travel routes in the event of a wildland fire emergency. This plan was practiced during a recent countywide preparedness exercise focusing on a wildland fire scenario.