Operations    Administration    Training    Fire Prevention    Public Information

Operations Division

The Operations Division is responsible for managing and supervising the day to day operations of the Fire District. The Division’s primary responsibility is to provide emergency responses from our 8 fire stations and 9 front-line response apparatus. Emergency medical responses account for approximately 76% of our calls. Other emergency responses include structure, vehicle and vegetation fires; vehicle accidents, rescues, hazardous materials incidents and public service calls.

The Division is managed by one Division Chief and three shift Battalion Chiefs. Each response unit is staffed with 3 personnel consisting of a Captain, Engineer and Firefighter/Paramedic or Firefighter EMT. Our day to day staffing includes eight Type One Structural Firefighting Engine Companies and One Type 1 Truck Company. We also cross staff three Type Three Brush Engines, two Rescue Units, two State of California Office of Emergency Services (OES) Engine Companies, and one San Diego County OES Mass Decontamination Unit. all Engine companies are staffed with a paramedic and provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) treatment. All response personnel are certified to a minimum level of Emergency Medical Technician. In addition to emergency responses, Operations personnel also provide public education, perform fire prevention inspections, maintain fire hydrants, perform equipment and facilities maintenance and repairs and participate in frequent training activities.

Dispatch and records management services are provided through a Joint Powers Agreement by the Heartland Communications Facility Authority. San Miguel also participates as a member of Zone 4 as a part of the California mutual aid system in cooperation with our surrounding jurisdictions. Members of Zone 4 utilize common operational policies and have automatic and mutual aid agreements in place to provide the most efficient level of service possible.

The Operations Division also manages the Fleet Maintenance Program. Our shop is staffed with one Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, one Fire Apparatus Mechanic and two part-time Mechanics. Our fleet personnel provide maintenance and repair services for all San Miguel motive equipment and contract repair and maintenance services to other local fire agencies. Our shop currently provides services for 44 vehicles.
Other services provided by the Operations Division include the fire station supply program, facilities maintenance and repair, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

Administration Division

More Coming Soon

Training Division

The Training Division is headed by Division Chief Steve Butcher. He is assisted by Battalion Chief Larry Converse, and six shift Training Captains. Major responsibilities include firefighter recruit training, research and development, overseeing the maintenance of continuing education, probationary step testing, promotional development and testing, and training program development and administration.

Firefighters frequently are confronted with extremely high risk situations that require quick decisions based on special skills, training, judgment and adaptability during constantly changing circumstances. A comprehensive training program is essential to ensure that firefighters are prepared for those situations.

The role of the San Miguel Training Division is multipurpose. It provides preparation for a future workforce by developing entry-level firefighters through the San Miguel Explorer Program and Reserve Firefighter Program. For our suppression personnel, the Training Division provides career development and succession planning, as well as in-service training, such as the Shift Fire Investigator program. The Training Division also ensures firefighter health and safety through risk management and safety programs.

The San Miguel Training Division prepares firefighters with state-required curricula for fire/rescue, hazardous materials, EMS, and all hazard emergency operations. All reserve firefighters go through a 488 hour State Firefighter I course at the Heartland Fire Training Academy. The course includes intense physical training, as well as a challenging academic and manipulative instruction.

The Training Division also ensures that all current personnel comply with State and Federal mandates regarding continuing education requirements. Advanced and specialized technical training and professional development is provided to various members of the department.

Fire Prevention Division

Welcome! The Fire Prevention Bureau is overseen by the Fire Marshal, Marsha Larsen. The San Miguel Fire District considers Fire Prevention an integral part of our fire service effort as well as a nexus to a successful business environment. It is our belief that the impact of fire prevention should be both positive and productive to both the residential and business communities.

The goal of a fire prevention inspection is to protect lives and property from the effects of fire by discovering and correcting deficiencies defined by code or in the law. The fire marshal or fire inspector addresses five specific areas in an effort to protect the building and its occupants. The first area is preventing fires from starting. The second area is once a fire has started what precautions can be taken to prevent the fire from spreading. The third area addresses insuring that the occupants can safely escape from the building in an emergency. The fourth area includes insuring fire protection systems and equipment, such as alarms and sprinklers are installed and operating correctly. The final area is to develop and maintain a firesafe corridor between the wildland and community developments through fuel modifications and inspections. All these factors are addressed in the Fire Code, local ordinances, or state law, and provide the fire inspectors their legal basis for action.

The fire marshal or fire inspector will try to educate the property owner or occupant to bring about voluntary compliance with the code. It is important to remember that many of the items contained in the code came about due to fires that killed people or destroyed a large amount of property. These were lessons that were hard learned, and they should not be repeated.

The review of building plans allows the fire marshal to insure that all new buildings meet the fire code before they are built. It is far more cost effective to detect a fire code problem before the building is constructed than to have it changed after the building is completed. In the past the Building Department approved the construction of buildings based on the building code, and the fire marshal had to try to enforce the fire code after the fact. The current system insures fire safety, and is more cost effective to the building owner.

The Fire Prevention Staff is here to assist you. If you have any questions or concerns regarding fire prevention, please contact us.

Your Public Servant
Marsha Larsen
Fire Marshal

Please click here for contact information

Public Information Division

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

The Public Information Officer (PIO) of the San Miguel Fire District (the District) is primarily responsible for the gathering and dissemination of information to the citizens, Directors and employees of the District. The PIO designs and distributes brochures, newsletters, surveys, and email newsletters and news releases and coordinates the development and maintenance of the District’s website. This includes both external and internal communications. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Media- Answer calls for information regarding department operations and being available to do radio and television interviews, both live and taped. Assist news personnel at the scene of incidents. Assist the news media on an on-call basis.
Prepare and distribute news releases. Arrange news conferences. Coordinate the release of authorized information.

Public Relations- Providing personnel to speak to groups about fire safety, fire apparatus and personnel for demonstrations of fire department operations, coordinate, through the Speakers Bureau, tours of fire department facilities, and school or community visits. Organize and/or participate in neighborhood activities that promote preparedness and safety.

Corporate Relations- Seek out and develop partnerships with local and national companies and agencies for the purpose of improving, enhancing and funding the District’s public education efforts.

Outside Agency Requests- Provide information about the District with regard to fire department operations (to include all divisions within the department) and any other type of outside requests.

Grants- Seek out and apply for grants to enhance fire protection and public education programs.

The PIO function at the San Miguel Fire Protection District is an ever-changing position with the main goal of promoting fire protection, prevention and public education. If there are any questions you might have regarding the PIO position or other related information about the San Miguel Fire Protection District please contact:

Leonard Villarreal
Public Information Officer

lvillarreal@smgfire.org
Direct (619) 660-5359
Cell (619) 961-7628