County profile

San Diego County, CA 64 departments

3,708 HIFLD personnel across 64 departments in San Diego County · #2 of 58 in-state.

3,708 personnel · #2 of 58

San Diego County, CA carries a heavy HIFLD roster (3,708 personnel across 64 departments) - #2 of 58 in-state; mix 42/16/0 career/volunteer/combination.

  • Personnel rank #2 of 58 in California
  • 5.53 stations per 100 personnel
  • 27% of roster in San Diego Fire - Rescue Department
  • 54 of 64 depts provide EMS
  • 64 of 1,309 California departments statewide
64
Departments
3,708
Total Personnel
#2 of 58
In-state by personnel
16
Volunteer Depts

Fire Departments in San Diego County

All fire departments in San Diego County, CA with personnel and station counts
Department Type Personnel
Alpine Fire Protection District
Alpine · EMS
career 18
Barona Fire Protection District
Lakeside · EMS
career 32
Bonita Sunnyside Fire Protection District
Bonita · EMS
career 15
Borrego Springs Fire Protection District
Borrego Springs · EMS
career 33
Boulevard Fire and Rescue Department Incorporated
Boulevard · EMS
volunteer 15
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Escondido · EMS
career 19
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
Dulzura
volunteer -
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - San Diego Unit
El Cajon · EMS
career 312
Camp Pendleton Fire Department
Camp Pendleton · EMS
career 135
Campo Reservation Fire Protection District
Campo · EMS
career 18
Campo Volunteer Fire Department
Campo · EMS
volunteer 27
Chula Vista Fire Department
Chula Vista · EMS
career 135
City of Carlsbad Fire Department
Carlsbad · EMS
career 83
City of Poway Fire Department
Poway · EMS
career 73
Coronado Fire Department
Coronado · EMS
career 33
DE Luz Volunteer Fire Department
Fallbrook
volunteer 39
Del Mar Fire Department
Del Mar · EMS
career 30
El Cajon Fire Department
El Cajon · EMS
career 73
Elfin Forest-Harmony Grove Fire Department Incorporated
Escondido · EMS
volunteer 49
Encinitas Fire
Encinitas
other -
Encinitas Fire and Marine Safety
Encinitas · EMS
career -
Escondido Fire Department
Escondido · EMS
career -
Federal Fire Department
San Diego
other -
General Dynamics - Nassco Fire Department
San Diego · EMS
career -
Imperial Beach Fire Department
Imperial Beach · EMS
career 16
Inter Mountain Fire and Rescue Department
Ramona · EMS
volunteer 35
Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District
Julian · EMS
volunteer 43
LA Mesa Fire District
La Mesa · EMS
career 52
Lakeside Fire Protection District
Lakeside · EMS
career 59
Lakeside Fire Protection District
El Cajon · EMS
other -
Lemon Grove Fire Department
Lemon Grove
career 21
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Fire Department
San Diego · EMS
career 63
Mesa Grande Fire Department
Santa Ysabel
career 4
Montezuma Valley Volunteer Fire Department - Ranchita Fire and Rescue
Ranchita · EMS
volunteer 10
Mount Laguna Volunteer Fire Department
Mount Laguna · EMS
volunteer 26
National City Fire Department
National City · EMS
career 54
North County Fire Protection District
Fallbrook
career 107
Oceanside Fire Department
Oceanside · EMS
career 126
Ocotillo Wells Volunteer Fire Department
Borrego Springs · EMS
volunteer 37
Pala Reservation Fire Department
Pala · EMS
career 29
Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department
Palomar Mountain · EMS
volunteer 16
Pauma Reservation Fire Department
Pauma Valley · EMS
career 18
Pine Valley Fire Protection District
Pine Valley · EMS
volunteer -
Poway Fire Department
Poway
other -
Ramona Fire Department
Ramona · EMS
career 45
Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District
Rancho Santa Fe · EMS
career 56
San Diego Fire - Rescue Department
San Diego · EMS
career 1,018
San Diego Rural Fire Protection District
Potrero · EMS
other -
San Diego Rural Fire Protection District
Jamul · EMS
volunteer 128
San Marcos Fire Protection District
San Marcos · EMS
career 81
San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District
El Cajon · EMS
career 49
San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District
Spring Valley · EMS
career 116
San Onofre Fire Department-Dod
San Clemente · EMS
career 20
San Pasqual Fire Department Incorporated
Escondido · EMS
volunteer 36
San Pasqual Reservation Fire Department
Valley Center
career 22
Santee Fire Department
Santee · EMS
career 61
Shelter Valley Volunteer Fire Department
Julian · EMS
volunteer 16
Solana Beach Fire Department
Solana Beach · EMS
career 21
Sunshine Summit Volunteer Fire Department
Warner Springs
other -
Sycuan Fire Department
El Cajon · EMS
career 47
Valley Center Fire Protection District
Valley Center · EMS
volunteer 34
Valley Center Fire Protection District
Valley Center · EMS
career -
Viejas Fire Department
Alpine · EMS
career 22
Vista Fire Department
Vista · EMS
career 81

Coverage desk

Roster-weight lane (3,708 personnel) - station density and largest-book share from HIFLD.

Staffing mix: 42 career, 16 volunteer, 0 combination (25% volunteer).

5.53 stations per 100 HIFLD personnel (205 stations / 3,708 roster).

Largest book: San Diego Fire - Rescue Department holds 27% of county personnel (1,018 of 3,708).

Photo-finish peer: Middlesex County, MA (+3 personnel).

California roster context

State departments
1,309
Annual fires
168,000
Volunteer %
40%
View California →

FAQ

How many firefighters serve San Diego County?

San Diego County has 3,708 total fire department personnel across 64 departments. The average per department is 58, which is 57% above the California average.

How many fire departments are in San Diego County, CA?

San Diego County, CA has 64 fire departments with available federal data. 42 career, 16 volunteer, By total reported personnel it ranks #2 of 58 among California counties with at least one listed department.

Are San Diego County fire departments mostly volunteer?

No, 42 of 64 departments (66%) are career (paid) departments.

Does San Diego County have EMS coverage?

Yes - 72 departments in San Diego County provide EMS services.

Nationwide counties with similar fire coverage

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details.
Top fire departments in San Diego, CA Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (personnel). Top fire departments in San Diego, CA Top 5 1. San Diego Fire - Rescue Department 1,018 personnel 2. California Department of Forestry and Fire… 312 personnel 3. Camp Pendleton Fire Department 135 personnel 4. Chula Vista Fire Department 135 personnel 5. San Diego Rural Fire Protection District 128 personnel Top 5 fire departments by total personnel in this county.Source: U.S. Fire Administration NFDR.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Department Registry NFDR (National Fire Department Registry) · 2024 Personnel totals for San Diego County sum HIFLD roster fields (career + volunteer) where reported.