Stockton Fire Department Response Reduction

First off I must say I am big fan of the Stockton Fire Department. They are one of the best trained, and professional fire departments in the Untied States. However, during this crisis, and even before I have always questioned the response and amount of equipment that is sent on a first alarm fire.




First Alarm Response to a Reported Structure/Building Fire

Battalion 1

Battalion 2

Operator 1

2 Trucks

2 Engines

1 Safety Engine

This is a first alarm response on any structure fire/building fire. This includes approximately 25 personal, and eight pieces of apparatus responding all code 3 to the alarm.


I feel that money and safety could be better served by looking at the amount of equipment that is sent to a first alarm fire, which half the time turns out to nothing. City's of compatible size send less apparatus on a first alarm fire and seem to do alright. Stockton used to send 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Chiefs Operator, 1 truck, 2 engines, and 1 safety engine to a first alarm fire, and this seemed to work fine.


I feel money could be saved by reducing the amount of equipment and manpower that is sent to a first alarm, but also reduce the potential for accidents because all the units responding to the alarm with lights an sirens. Money could be saved, but of course there is the argument the massive amount of response is necessary to save lives, but I counter--Stockton's old run cards worked good and lives were saved and they still held the Class one Ratings.