Idyllwild Fire Protection District

Last updated
Idyllwild Fire Protection District
Idyllwild Fire Logo.tif
Idyllwild Fire Patch.jpg
"From our Family to Yours"
Operational area
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
State Flag of California.svg  California
County Flag of Riverside County, California.png Riverside
Town Idyllwild and Fern Valley
Agency overview
Established1946
Annual calls1088 (2018) [1]
Employees13 (2020) [2]
Annual budget$2,354,000 (2018) [3]
StaffingCareer
Fire chief Mark LaMont
EMS level ALS
Facilities and equipment
Stations 1
Engines 2
Trucks 1
Squads 1
Ambulances 6
Tenders 1
Website
Official website

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) provides firefighting, rescue, emergency medical services, and ambulance transport services for the unincorporated communities of Idyllwild and Fern Valley, in Southern California. [4]

Contents

History

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District began out of an all-volunteer fire department and was established in 1946. [5] The district was established when community members reported being ignored by the fire departments who did not want to travel the long distance up the mountain, so voters took their security and protection into their own hands. [6] It remained fully volunteer-run until 1960 when a switch was made to paid-call staff to provide 24-hour fire service. [7] The Idyllwild Fire Protection District began providing paramedic service in 1979. [5]

Organization

Idyllwild Fire Protection District Organizational Chart Idyllwild Fire Protection District Organizational Chart.png
Idyllwild Fire Protection District Organizational Chart

Board of Commissioners

A five-member board of commissioners, made up by elected residents, oversees the Idyllwild Fire Protection District. The board includes President Ralph Hoetger, Vice President Henry Sawicki, Secretary Rhonda Andrewson, and Commissioners Christina Reitz and Dennis Fogle. Each member serves a four-year term. [8]

Staff

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District operates one fire station, station 621. Fire personnel includes Chief Mark LaMont and three shifts, each including a captain, engineer, firefighter, and reserve firefighter, [9] with multiple paramedics assigned to each shift. Staff rotates days on-duty by assigned shift. The Idyllwild fire department also staffs a medical director, EMS coordinator, and an administrative assistant. [8] A volunteer fire company, Idyllwild Volunteer Fire Company 621, also operates in conjunction with the district.

Operations

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District operates in the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County. It is the fire station that holds the position of lowest cost to operate in Riverside County. As of 2018, the station operates on a budget of approximately 60% of the average station budget of the Riverside County Fire Department, [10] who manages the other stations in the mountain area, while maintaining more equipment than adjoining stations [11] and receiving an Insurance Service Office rating of 2, on a scale of 1(best) to 9(worst), where Riverside County Fire received a score of 9 in the surrounding areas. The Idyllwild Fire Protection District is also the station licensee for WNKI 578, a local emergency radio station that broadcasts to the local community.

Types of apparatus

The Idyllwild Fire Protection District utilizes a wide array of apparatus and equipment.

Engines

Truck

  • Truck 621 is a Spartan Gladiator built in 2006.

Brush

  • Brush 621 is an International 7400 built in 2006.

ALS ambulances

Other apparatus

Dispatch

The Idyllwild Fire Department holds a contract with Riverside County Fire Department for dispatch services. [12]

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References

  1. "Idyllwild Fire Protection District 2018/19 FY First Qtr Review" (PDF). idyllwildfire.com.
  2. "Contacts". Idyllwild Fire Protection District. Idyllwild Fire Protection District. 2020.
  3. "Idyllwild Fire Protection District 2018/19 FY First Qtr Review" (PDF). idyllwildfire.com.
  4. "District Services". Idyllwild Fire Protection District. Idyllwild Fire Protection District. 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Idyllwild Fire Protection District / IFPD". Welcome to IDYLLWILD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
  6. "In Idyllwild, the Fire District is the de facto local government". Desert Sun. Desert Sun. 10 August 2018.
  7. "Idyllwild Town Crier Online". idyllwildvisitorscenter.com.
  8. 1 2 "Contacts". Idyllwild Fire.
  9. "County, IFPD and AMR send closest unit for medical emergencies • Idyllwild Town Crier". idyllwildtowncrier.com.
  10. "Idyllwild Fire Protection District 2018/19 FY First Qtr Review" (PDF). idyllwildfire.com.
  11. "Riverside County (CA) Fire Stations - the RadioReference Wiki".
  12. "Riverside County (CA) Fire Stations - The RadioReference Wiki". wiki.radioreference.com.