San Mateo Operational Area Fire-Rescue Services
"Advancement Through Unity"

The San Mateo Operational Area's twenty incorporated cities or towns, unincorporated communities and unincorporated lands are protected by 16 fire protection agencies.  Serving a resident population in excess of 730,000 spread out over 449 square miles between San Francisco County, Santa Clara County, the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, these local government fire-rescue agencies operate over 50 career firefighter-staffed fire stations.

Since January 1998, units have generally been assigned to incidents county-wide without consideration of jurisdictional boundaries by a single-point, countywide dispatching and communications center.  Greater alarm response plans have been developed to provide additional units in a timely manner to large incidents.  A plan also ensures that systematic fire station coverage is provided during periods of increased service demand.

During calendar year 2002, there were over 68,000 emergency incidents responded to by local government fire-rescue agencies, 8% of which were fire/full assignment, 7% of which were traffic accidents and 54% were medical emergencies.

Career firefighter-staffed fire engines have provided paramedic first response services countywide since December 1998.  Emergency medical transportation services are provided by a private sector ambulance contractor and select local government fire-rescue agencies.

The San Mateo Operational Area Fire-Rescue Services have been recognized state-wide and nationally for their innovative methods of regionally sharing services to meet local fire, rescue, emergency medical and hazardous materials challenges.

For those interested in keeping up with the emergency response activity of the San Mateo Operational Area Fire-Rescue services, visit www.firedispatch.com.

Last updated:  April 2003