[3] The San Rafael Fire Department serves an estimated population of 72,000 people with approximately 70 firefighting and emergency medical field personnel.

County wide mutual aid provides relief and additional support during large scale incidents and during high call volume.

The San Rafael Fire Department was first organized on December 5, 1874, when William Miller and J.B. Rice posted a notice in the Marin County Journal, calling for volunteer firemen.

There were 45 volunteers from a variety of trades including a justice of the peace and a school superintendent and were led by sheriff James Tunstede.

The water supply of San Rafael used gravity to provide pressure and so a pump was not required.

In that era, there was one station in San Rafael with 250 hydrants and 15 paid firefighters as well as a host of volunteers.

In October 2017, the 100 year old station 51 was torn down and replaced with a Public Safety Center which opened in 2020.

Additional reserve apparatus, including a truck and multiple medic units, are kept at the city maintenance yard.