Fire Department Overview

The City of Poway covers just under 40 square miles but within its jurisdiction the Poway Fire Department protects a broad mix of residential communities and retail centers, an industrial park, over 4,300 acres of preserved open space and 78 miles of trails. With a Class 1 ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating, the department provides exemplary service to residents, visitors, and business alike.

This includes:

• Structural Fire Suppression
• Wildland Fire Suppression
• Emergency Medical Services
• Emergency Medical Transport
• Technical Rescue
• Fire Prevention Services
• Public Education
• Emergency Preparedness

Providing Exemplary Fire Protection

The Poway Fire Department is classified as a Class 1/1X department by the Insurance Services Office Public Protection Classification program. ISO's Public Protection Classification program measures and evaluates the effectiveness of fire suppression services in communities throughout the country. A Class 1 is the highest available rating and represents exemplary fire protection and a high capability for suppressing structure fires. This rating helps lower the cost of homeowners insurance for structure fires.

Fire Department History

The Poway Municipal Water District established the Poway Fire Department in 1961. The Fire Department began providing emergency services from its first fire station located on Community Road with a single fire engine. Soon after, the Poway Firefighters Association purchased and operated Poway's first ambulance. As call volume increased, a second fire engine was added in 1964 and a second fire station was built in north Poway in 1973.

The Poway Municipal Water District made a strategic decision in 1977 to conduct a needs assessment to evaluate location, apparatus, and personnel levels to serve the community. As a result, Station 1 and Station 2 were moved to their existing locations and potential future station locations were identified based on expected growth in the area.

After incorporation in 1980, the Fire Department continued to grow with the City of Poway. The City added a second paramedic ambulance in 2001, and a third fire engine was placed into service in 2003. Fire Station 3 was opened in 2005 to support the growing community and the department's Ladder Truck, the largest piece of apparatus in the fleet. The Ladder Truck, featuring a 105 ft aerial ladder, went into service in 2006.

Much of the department's early staffing was provided by reserve and volunteer firefighters, however, the increasing daily operating demands exceeded their ability to provide reliable services. Today, the department is staffed by a full-time professional work force, including 16 firefighters on shift per day and three fire prevention staff.