The San Luis Obispo City Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency response services for the city of San Luis Obispo, California and protects a population of approximately 47,000 people; however that number increases to over 100,000 during weekdays.

In the event of an ambulance shortage, the fire department's Medic Rescue 1 is utilized to provide for transport.

Medic Rescue 1 also responds to wildland and vegetation fires throughout the state, staffed with Fireline Paramedics, for firefighter safety.

Challenging economic times have kept the fire department staffing the same since 1978, when the call volume was approximately 1000 incidents per year.

Recent development in the city has sparked the possibility of a fifth fire station located in the Avila Ranch area near Buckley Road.

Current call volume statistics reveal that workload should increase to approximately 9,000 incidents per year by that time.