IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT
Imperial Beach, CA · San Diego County
IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Career (Paid) department serving Imperial Beach, CA (San Diego County), with 1 station and 16 total personnel. The department also provides EMS services. Full equipment, coverage, and staffing data from HIFLD are below.
- 16
- Total personnel
- 1
- Stations
- —
- Fire trucks
- Yes
- EMS service
(37/dept)
of 737 CA depts
staffing density
AFG / SAFER
Department Profile
- Type
- MOSTLY PAID
- Location
- Imperial Beach, CA
- County
- San Diego County
- FDID
- 37085
FEMA Grant History
| Year | Award | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | EMW2013FH00895 | $508,298 |
Source: USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER) USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER)
Staffing vs the California average
How IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT's personnel count compares to the typical department in California. It is larger than 15% of the 737 reporting departments statewide.
- Stations
- 1
- State fire deaths/yr
- 346
- CA departments
- 1,309
What This Data Tells You About IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT
IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT operates as a Career (Paid) department in Imperial Beach, within San Diego County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 16 total personnel, 1 station, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as active, which directly affects how medical calls in the service area are routed and how quickly an advanced life support unit can reach a patient. Department type matters because career, volunteer, and combination organizations carry very different response-time profiles and funding sources.
Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. California has 1,309 registered fire departments and 48,526 total personnel, averaging roughly 37 staff per department. IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT runs 57% below that state average, signalling a leaner crew typical of smaller jurisdictions or heavily volunteer-staffed areas. The state records about 168,000 fires, 346 fire deaths, and 40% volunteer coverage each year, which shapes training, funding priorities, and mutual-aid patterns felt at every department in the state.
Federal investment further defines this department's trajectory: IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $508,298 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff. Residents, insurers, and mutual-aid partners use these data points to judge whether coverage is adequate for the built environment, whether ISO ratings are defensible, and where future capital investment should flow. All figures on this page come from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) public dataset, USFA published statistics, and USAspending.gov, and are presented without editing so the underlying federal record remains transparent and verifiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many firefighters does IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT have? ▼
IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT has 16 total personnel according to HIFLD data. This is 57% below the California average of 37 per department.
Does IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT provide EMS services? ▼
Yes, IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in addition to fire response.
How many fire stations does IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT operate? ▼
IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT operates 1 fire station.
What type of fire department is IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT? ▼
IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Career (Paid) department serving San Diego County, CA. Career departments employ full-time paid firefighters.
Has IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT received federal grants? ▼
Yes, IMPERIAL BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $508,298 through the AFG and SAFER programs. The most recent grant was in fiscal year 2014.
How many fire departments are in California? ▼
California has 1,309 fire departments with 48,526 total personnel. 40% are volunteer departments.
Learn More
Related Fire Data
Data from HIFLD Open Data (FEMA/DHS). Not all departments report equally.
Nearby Departments
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Related
Federal data sources
- HIFLD Fire Stations (DHS/CISA) — station inventory, personnel, and apparatus counts.
- USFA National Fire Department Registry (FEMA) — department-type classification and federal registration.
- FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants — federal grant award history.
- NFPA 1710 / NFPA 1720 — career and volunteer response benchmarks.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from FEMA/DHS HIFLD Open Data. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.