MISSION STATEMENT
“Community based all risk emergency services
organization dedicated to the health and well-being
of the citizens of San Bernardino County
through a balance of regionalized services delivery
and accountability to the local community.”
Your Fire Chief
Duty, Honor, Community
SERVICE MOTTO
VISION STATEMENT
“Committed to Providing Premier Fire Services”
The men and women of County Fire continue to push forward on many
fronts. Crest Forest Fire Protection District officially consolidated with the
County Fire District on June 30, 2015. Lake Arrowhead and Crest Forest
have worked closely together since the mid 1920’s.
County Fire is a true melting pot of Board Governed, independent,
dependent Fire Districts and City Fire Departments. There are Districts in
each Service Zone (Valley, Mountain, North Desert, and South Desert)
that have been providing fire, rescue, and EMS for over 75 years. The
men and women of County Fire honor the service provided by those
that have come before us and we are proud of our diverse and storied
past. We stand on the shoulders of firefighters and staff who took the first
steps to pool resources in order to provide more effective and cost efficient
services to their respective communities throughout the County. District Fire
Chiefs such as Bob Hedden (Wrightwood), Jim Laurence (Lake Arrowhead),
Joe Reyes (Lucerne Valley), Duane Mellinger (Central Valley) and Clarence
Gish (Yucca Valley), envisioned a county fire district that exists today.
Fire departments throughout the state are looking for ways to partner with
regional neighbors in order to maximize service and efficiency. For those
communities looking for options, County Fire offers a sustainable regional
solution for fire, rescue and EMS with a focus on local accountability and
community involvement. Sustainability and regional stability are achieved
through perpetual revenue sources such as property tax and voter-approved
special tax assessments. More and more communities in San Bernardino
County are inquiring with the local agency formation commission (LAFCO)
about the benefits and steps to annexation. The cost to provide fire, rescue,
and EMS services, along with retirement and benefit expenses, are rising at
a faster pace than revenues in many communities. This increasing disparity is
forcing communities to find efficiencies or face potential service reductions.
The County Fire Distric