Berkeley Fire Department

Berkeley Fire Department
Operational area
Country United States
State California
CountyAlameda
Agency overview
Established1904[1]
Annual calls17,713 (2023)[2]
Employees144
Annual budget$45,434,206 (FY 2021)[3]
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefDavid Sprauge[4]
EMS levelALS
IAFF1227
Facilities and equipment[5]
Battalions1
Stations7
Engines7 - Front line
3 - Reserve
Trucks2 - Front line
1 - Reserve
Ambulances4 - ALS
HAZMAT1
Wildland1 - Type 3
2 - Type 6
Website
Berkeley Fire Department
www.bffa1227.org

The Berkeley Fire Department (BFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Berkeley, California, United States as well as the University of California, Berkeley.[6]

History

In 1877, volunteer fire companies were first organized.[7] On October 22, 1904 the Berkeley City Hall was destroyed by a fire and shortly thereafter a paid department was formed.[8] In 1914, the Berkeley Fire Department became the first department west of the Mississippi to be fully motorized.[9] In 1923, over 600 homes and businesses were destroyed by the 1923 Berkeley, California fire.[10] In 1977, the fire department placed ambulances into service and took over the responsibility of emergency medical transport from the police department. In 1986, the department began providing paramedic level emergency medical services to the city. In 1991, 63 homes in Berkeley burned down during the Oakland firestorm of 1991.[11]

Stations & Equipment

The Berkeley Fire Department operates out of 7 Fire Stations, located throughout the city.[5] Beginning in July 2017 the Berkeley Fire Department has added staffing for a 4th ambulance.[12]

Fire Station Number Address Engine Company Truck Company Medic Unit Command Unit Wildland Engine Special Operations Units Other Units
1 2442 Eight Street Engine 1 Medic 1 Water Tender 1 Reserve Ambulance
2 2029 Berkeley Way Engine 2 Truck 2 Medic 2 Battalion 2 Ems 2 Wildland engine 602 Type 6 HazMat 2 Reserve Truck
Reserve Ambulance
3 2710 Russell Street Engine 3 Medic 3
4 1900 Marin Avenue Engine 4 1912 Segrave (Parade Engine) Reserve Engine
5 2680 Shattuck Avenue Engine 5 Truck 5 Medic 5 Wildland engine 305 Type 3 Reserve Engine
6 999 Cedar Street Engine 6 Reserve Engine
7 3000 Shasta Road Engine 7 Cal OES Engine 2612 Type 6 QRV 7

See also

References

  1. ^ "Department History". City of Berkeley. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "About BFD". City of Berkeley. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Budget". City of Berkeley. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  4. ^ "Fire Chief". Berkeley Fire. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Apparatus". City of Berkeley. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  6. ^ "Berkeley Fire Department". City of Berkeley. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  7. ^ Mike Flynn. "Our History - History of the Berkeley Fire Department". BFFA 1227. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  8. ^ Daniella Thompson. "Berkeley's City Hall Was Inspired by a Mairie on the Loire". Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  9. ^ "History". City of Berkeley. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  10. ^ Charles Burress (September 17, 1998). "Berkeley Revisits Great Fire of 1923". SF Gate. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  11. ^ Hills Conservation Network. "Wildfire Lessons". Hills Conservation Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  12. ^ City of Berkeley. "FAQ". City of Berkeley. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.

37°52′N 122°16′W / 37.87°N 122.27°W / 37.87; -122.27