Huntington Beach Fire Department

The Huntington Beach Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Huntington Beach, California.[5] In addition to fire services, the HBFD also provides medical transport via a fleet of five ambulances.[4] Each ambulance is staffed by two three-year limited term EMTs and the department transports over 10,000 patients annually.[6]

Huntington Beach Fire Department
Operational area
Country United States
State California
City Huntington Beach
Agency overview[1][2]
Established1909
Annual calls17,205 (2014)
Employees198 (2014)
Annual budget$45.6 million[3]
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefScott Haberle
EMS levelALS
IAFF3354
Facilities and equipment[4]
Battalions1
Stations8
Engines8
Trucks2
Ambulances5
HAZMAT1
USAR1
Website
Official website
IAFF website

History

The Huntington Beach Fire Department was formed as an organization in 1909 with 20 volunteers. John Tinsley, became the first fire chief. The first fire engine was a 1923 Seagrave purchased in 1922.[7]

Marine operations

The Marine Safety Division of the HBFD is responsible for patrolling the 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of shoreline along Huntington Beach and Sunset Beach.[8] The staffing levels vary from just five Marine Safety Officers during the offseason (October to March) to as many as 65 during the summer. The division staffs 30 lifeguard towers along the beach as well as Tower Zero on the Huntington Beach Pier.[9] Members of the Marine Safety division have a wide array of equipment available for their use including 10 Toyota Tacoma patrol trucks, 3 Toyota Tundra patrol trucks, search and rescue SCUBA gear, 3 29-foot Crystaliner twin-engine rescue vessels, 3 Yamaha Waverunners, rigid-hulled inflatable boats and all-terrain vehicles.[9]

The Marine Safety Division is primarily responsible for ensuring the safety of swimmers and mariners within the city's jurisdictional beaches. All full-time Marine Safety Officers and most seasonal lifeguards are certified as EMT's and provide BLS emergency medical care to beachgoers. Marine Safety Officers are also deputized peace officers, tasked with enforcing city ordinances on the beach.

In 2019, lifeguards perform 3960 rescues and 159,583 preventative actions. A rescue is defined as the act of physically assisting a person out of the water, who may not have been able to otherwise remove themselves from a hazardous situation. Preventative actions are warnings issued to beachgoers in hazardous areas, with the intent of preventing rescues and drownings.

Stations and apparatus
HBFD Engine 45 on Main Street in Huntington Beach.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department staffs 4-person engines and trucks. All engines are ALS-level staffing with a Fire Captain, Fire Engineer, and two Firefighter Paramedics. Trucks are BLS-level with a Fire Captain, Fire Engineer, and two Firefighter EMT's. USAR 42 is cross-staffed with Truck 42 personnel. HazMat 46 is cross-staffed with Engine 46 personnel. ET41, ET42, ET45, and ET46 are 24-hour ambulances. ET241 and ET245 are 12-hour ambulances, that only operate during the daytime hours.

Fire Station Address Engine Company Truck Company Emergency Transport unit Other Units
1 18311 Gothard StEngine 41ET 41, ET 241Battalion 4[10]
2 16221 Gothard AveEngine 42Truck 42ET 42USAR 42[11]
3 19711 Bushard StEngine 43[12]
4 21441 Magnolia StEngine 44[13]
5 530 Lake StEngine 45Truck 45ET 45, ET 245[14]
6 18591 Edwards StEngine 46ET 46HazMat 46[15]
7 3831 Warner AveEngine 47[16]
8 5891 Heil AveEngine 48[17]
Marine Safety 103 Pacific Coast Hwy HLIFE

References
  1. "Annual Fire and Marine Safety Response Statistics 2014" (PDF). Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  2. "Fiscal Year 2014 Adopted Budget" (PDF). Huntington Heach. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  3. Mellen, Greg (March 2, 2016). "Huntington Beach names new fire chief". The Orange County Register. Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  4. "Huntington Beach Fire Stations". IAFF 3354. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  5. "Fire Chief's Message". Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  6. "Ambulance Program". Huntington Fire Department. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  7. Bharath, Deepa (June 5, 2014). "A look back at city's first fire engine". Huntington Beach Wave.
  8. "Marine Division". Huntington Beach Fire Department. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  9. "Marine Facilities". Huntington Beach Fire Department. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  10. "Station 1". Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  11. "Station 2". Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  12. "Station 3". Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  13. "Station 4". Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  14. "Station 5". Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  15. "Station 6". Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  16. "Station 7". Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  17. "Station 8". Huntington Beach Fire. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

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