Fire

On behalf of the 104 men and women of the Palo Alto Fire Department, I would like to welcome you to our web page and invite you to learn more about the innovative services we provide the community everyday. We are a professional team of men and women dedicated to safeguarding and enriching the lives of anyone, anytime, anywhere with compassion and pride.

Reflecting the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University communities we serve, the Palo Alto Fire Department strives to be an innovator. At a minimum, we meet the best practices in fire, rescue and emergency services. Our added goal is to identify, test and implement emerging new practices. We have been recognized as one of ten municipal fire departments in California and one of 259 in the world to achieve international accreditation. This accomplishment places the department among less than one percent of fire departments in the world and affirms our pioneering and cost-conscious practices. Highlighting our community commitment, we are the only fire agency in Santa Clara County that also provides ambulance services. In most fire agencies, emergency medical service calls account for nearly 70 percent of all calls. We care for residents and visitors with professional and compassionate paramedics and emergency medical technicians. We have been on the forefront of emergency medicine since 1975 and are proud of our four decade partnerships with Stanford Medicine and the Veterans Administration Hospital.

We are also committed to reducing the community's risk from fire and other emergencies. We focus a great deal of resources to identify, mitigate and prevent hazards that could cause fires or other emergencies, including unplanned medical events. Simply put, we protect the future.

While we hope you don't need our services, in the event we do meet professionally we promise prompt, professional and caring customer service. You deserve it, and we thrive on providing it.

If you are looking for a rewarding career serving an appreciative community, especially if you excel in being part of a high performing team, we invite you to learn about our career opportunities.

Sincerely,
Chief Geo Blackshire

The Fire Department conducts daily training exercises and ensures firefighters exceed all certification standards to maintain a state of readiness to respond to a wide variety of emergency and non-emergency calls for service. The three shifts of professional firefighters at each station work 24/7 to provide fire suppression, emergency medical services, ambulance transport, hazardous material management, technical and water rescue, and other types of interventions to protect the life and property of the community when needed. 

Looking for a Fire Station or to learn about the difference between a Fire Engine and Fire Truck? Check out the department's Operations page. 

To learn more about the Organization, goals and achievements of the department check out the Fire Administration page.

The Fire Prevention Bureau is housed in the Development Center, and ensures compliance with the fire code for the safety of occupants and protection of property. Fire Inspectors perform fire sprinkler and fire alarm plan checks, permitting and field inspections to ensure all construction complies with local and national codes. For more information visit the Fire Prevention page.

The Palo Alto Fire Department is taking all measures to protect public safety in response to COVID-19. All emergency response crews are strictly adhering to the Infectious Disease Control Measures required by the Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services Department. The Department and the City are continuously tracking and monitoring the public health situation in our community, including participating in the Santa Clara County briefings as well as monitoring advisories issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can find the most up-to-date information on measures the City is taking by visiting the Coronavirus page.

For questions regarding your ambulance bill please contact our billing agency
Digitech at (888) 980-9213.

You may also visit their website to update your address, provide insurance information or make a payment at Ambulance Billing Patient Portal