San Diego Regional Fire and Emergency Services Foundation

To provide basic Fire and medical equipment and training needed by firefighters, the Foundation conducts an annual grant program for all Fire departments in San Diego county, with an emphasis on those which are in underserved communities where the tax basis is not adequate to enable the acquisition of needed equipment. The foundations goal is for all residents to have the same level of service without regard to where they live and to strengthen the weakest link in our countys system of Emergency and medical Services. Due to the high risk of wildfires in our county resulting from the regions arid condition, rough terrain, heavy fuels and strong winds, it is critical that all Fire agencies work effectively together, we cannot afford a weak link.

Three interrelated community issues are 1) lack of young people entering the Fire Services as a career, 2) Fire department personnel lack the diversity of the community they service, and 3) young adults graduating from high school in disadvantaged communities often lack knowledge and awareness about Fire career opportunities. Working with high schools and Fire chiefs, the Fire Foundation is developing a high school curriculum to provide students with basic firefighting and medical background, knowledge, and experience to prepare them to become emts (Emergency medical technicians) and qualified to enter the Fire service at age 18.

To achieve the foundations ultimate goal of San Diego being the safest county in the country, it is imperative to take action to prevent fires, as well as having top caliber Fire departments to respond when there is a Fire. To achieve this objective, the Foundation partners with the Regional Fire safe council (fsc) and over 40 local community based fscs. With Foundation grants, these local fscs identify fire-risk areas in their communities, clear brush, clean canyons and roadsides, provide chipping Services and dumpsters for residents making their properties Fire safe. In addition, community education sessions are held informing residents of actions needed to make their property safer, and what to do and what to take with them if they must evacuate their homes.