The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department is divided into two major divisions: Emergency Operations and Support Services.

[8] Additionally, the department operates a squad apparatus out of a specialty facility in the San Pasqual Valley area of the city.

The sixty foot, two section wooden, horse drawn, aerial ladder was the first of its kind in the United States.

Fire departments from all across the country including San Francisco, Chicago and New York purchased this new exciting piece of apparatus from Chief Cairnes.

By 1917, San Diego had become the first major fire department on the West Coast to be totally mechanized.

As a result, the last team of fire horses was turned over to the City Yards where they continued their service hauling trash wagons.

This boat, named the “Bill Ketner” was built by the Firemen assigned to Station 6, which is now the Fire House Museum.

The fire boat had the ability to pump ten powerful hose streams and had two deck guns.

One year later, history was made again by Timothy Augustus Williams, who became the first Black Fireman for the SDFD.

Although the tough economic times prevailed, good editorials and the threat of higher insurance rates helped get the department back to normal by 1935.

At a time in our history of high racial tension across the country, Chief Courser issued a standing order that integrated the San Diego Fire Department.

In July 1969, due to increasing workload and responses being fielded by San Diego Firefighters, a need for more personnel was warranted.

In February 1979, Paramedic service began for the City of San Diego, provided by the medevac corporation.

No longer would SDFD just respond to fires and rescues, but medical aid responses would soon steer the department down a new but necessary path.

These 15 engine companies were selected based on their run volume and the extended response times by ambulances to their districts.

In 1994, the city and department executed a lease with the U.S. Navy at the Camp Nimitz Naval Training Center in Point Loma.

Prior to this, training was administered and conducted at numerous sites including Headquarters, Station 28, and Miramar College.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department operates several different types of companies with their assigned apparatus serving specialized functions.

The Type I Triple Combination Pump, or Engine Company, as it is most commonly referred to, is the backbone of the San Diego fire service.

SDFD Truck companies are staffed by four crew members: An officer (Captain), Driver (Engineer), and two firefighters.

HazMat units are used to investigate and mitigate Hazardous Materials incidents, including weapons of mass destruction (WMD) city and countywide.

HazMat units also carry Level A & B suits along with other specialized equipment to monitor and detect hazardous materials.

Type III - Engine Companies are commonly referred to as Brush Rigs, and are used primarily for wildland firefighting purposes.

Type III apparatus are crossstaffed by personnel from an Engine or Truck company when requested or may be staffed full-time during extreme fire/weather conditions.

The main purpose of Foam 28 is to provide protection for the gasoline tank farm located in Mission Valley and at Montgomery Field, however it can be used for large structure fires and wildland hoselays.

SDFD's helicopters are based at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport,[9] and utilized county wide for Firefighting, Rescues and Medical Transport.