BARSTOW FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

Serving the City of Barstow and the Communities of Barstow Heights, Grandview, Irwin Estates, Lenwood, Skyline East, Skyline North, Soapmine, and portions of unincorporated San Bernardino County.

Department Profile

The Barstow Fire Protection District is budgeted for 30 full time employees consisting of (1) Fire Chief, (1) Administrative Secretary, (1) Fire Investigator/Inspector, (3) Fire Battalion Chiefs, (6) Fire Captains, (6) Fire Engineers, (9) Firefighter/Paramedics, and (3) Firefighters. Its resources include a daily staffing of (2) fire stations and (3) front-line emergency vehicles comprised of paramedic engine companies, paramedic squad, and (1) chief officer vehicle, working 56-hour workweek. In addition. BFPD cross staffs an OES Type-1, a hazardous materials unit, and a water tender. BFPD responds to approximately 8,000 calls for service annually.

History

On May 24, 1926, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors authorized the formation of the Barstow Fire Protection District as the Barstow Volunteer Fire Department. The District included approximately four-square miles and had no equipment for firefighting to protect a population of barely 1,000. In September 1926, through a tax initiative by the tax payers, the District acquired its first fire engine, a 1922 Model T Ford chemical engine, which had its first response on November 4, 1926. In January of 1936, the District continued to expand and the first fire station was incorporated within the town meeting hall, located at 209 North First Avenue. The Town Hall / Fire Station was dedicated on September 23, 1939. Volunteers were called to emergencies by sirens that were placed throughout the community. Personnel would respond to the fire station and the first person to arrive there would then call the alarm center, located in someone's residence, to get the assignment and write it and the address on a chalk board. The District expanded again in the early l950's when two new fire stations were built and equipped with apparatus. One was located on Nancy and "G" Street and the other on Paris, just off of West Main Street in Lenwood. An additional station was built behind a house on the Northeast comer of Bigger Street and Adele Drive. On July 1, 1957, the District changed from an all-volunteer district to a combination of volunteer and career personnel. In 1959, the District’s boundaries were expanded to include portions of the Lenwood area when the residents of the area requested inclusion into the District. In 2010, for economic reasons, the City of Barstow and the Barstow Fire Protection District issued a joint resolution to establish the District as a subsidiary district of the City of Barstow. The LAFCO approved the proposal. [1]

Area Served

The Barstow Fire Protection District (BFPD) was established May 24th,1926 as a Volunteer Fire District. Currently, Barstow Fire protection provides ALS services with two full time Paramedic Engines and one Paramedic Squad as well as on Duty Battalion Chief for the entire Fire District. The City of Barstow is located in the central portion of the Mojave Desert and are considered part of what's known as the Inland Empire Region of San Bernardino County in Southeastern California. In addition to the being a subsidiary district of the City of Barstow, the Barstow Fire Protection District also covers the unincorporated areas of Barstow Heights, Grandview, Irwin Estates, Lenwood, Skyline East, Skyline North, Soapmine and a portion of unincorporated San Bernardino County bordering the city on the north side. Incorporated as a city on September 30, 1947, Barstow encompasses a total area of 85.78 square miles (41.39 City & 44.39 unincorporated area) and serves a population of approximately 47,946 (23,407 city & 24,539 unincorporated area). Barstow is named after William Barstow Strong (May 16, 1837 – August 3, 1914), former president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

Mutual Aid

The Barstow Fire Department has mutual-aid agreements with the San Bernardino County Fire Department, the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow Fire & Emergency Services, the Fort Irwin Fire Department, the Apple Valley Fire Protection District, the Victorville Fire Department, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Fire Department, the Rialto Fire Department, the Daggett Volunteer Fire Department, the Yermo / Calico Volunteer Fire Department, and the Newberry Springs Volunteer Fire Department.

Organizational Growth

The anticipated growth of the Barstow Fire Protection District is driven by expansion of commerce and development, the increased service requests, and ever evolving needs of the Community and its Visitors. These projections in growth are in part due to the City of Barstow General Plan and BNSF Specific Plan anticipating the development of 6,920 dwelling units and 14,054,400 square feet of industrial/commercial property.

Fire Department Facilities

Fire Station 361

(Headquarters)

ME361-Paramedic Engine Company

MS361-Paramedic Squad

WT361-Water Tender

OES328-CALOES ICS Type-1 Light Rescue Fire Engine

BC4710-Fire Battalion Chief/Shift Commander

Daily Staffing:

Fire Battalion Chief

Fire Captain

Fire Engineer

Firefighter/Paramedic (2)

Firefighter

Fire Station 362

(Unstaffed)

Fire Station 363

(Proposed)

ME363-Paramedic Engine Company

MT363-Truck Company (TDA)

BE363-Type 3 Brush Engine

Daily Staffing:

Fire Captain (2)

Fire Engineer (2)

Firefighter/Paramedic (3)

Fire Station 364

(Proposed)

ME364-Paramedic Engine Company

MT364-Truck Company (TDA)

Daily Staffing:

Fire Captain (2)

Fire Engineer (2)

Firefighter/Paramedic (3)

Fire Station 365

(Proposed)

ME365-Paramedic Engine Company

Daily Staffing:

Fire Captain

Fire Engineer

Firefighter/Paramedic

Fire Station 366

ME366-Paramedic Engine Company

Daily Staffing:

Fire Captain

Fire Engineer

Firefighter/Paramedic

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Barstow Fire Protection District is an dependent fire district governed by an elected five-member City of Barstow City Council.

Board members are responsible for overseeing the creation and evaluation of policies, establishing service levels, and approving expenditures for equipment, apparatus, and station construction.

Barstow Fire Protection District Board Members are committed to providing excellence in legislative leadership and the highest quality of services to our constituents.