Kern County Fire Department

The Kern County Fire Department (KCFD) provides fire protection and emergency response services for the unincorporated areas of Kern County, California, and for multiple cities within the county. The department covers an area which spans over 8,000 square miles (21,000 km²).

Kern County Fire Department

Operational area
Country	United States
State	California
County	Kern
Agency overview[1]
Annual calls	78,200 (2016)
Employees	480 (uniformed)
Annual budget	$118,152,262 (2010)
Fire chief	David Witt
IAFF	1301
Facilities and equipment[1]
Battalions	7
Stations	48
Engines	55
Trucks	4
Quints	1
Tenders	5
HAZMAT	2
USAR	2
Airport crash	3
Bulldozers	12
Helicopters	2
Website
www.kerncountyfire.org
www.kerncountyfirefighters.org

In addition to the unincorporated areas of Kern County, the department also services the cities of Arvin, Delano, Maricopa, McFarland, Ridgecrest, Shafter, Taft, Tehachapi and Wasco.[2]

Equipment

Helicopters

The KCFD has two helicopters in their air operations unit, H-407 and H-408.[1] Both are Bell UH-1 "Huey"s and are fitted for both hoisting of personnel for a rescue as well as for dropping of water during a fire.[3][4] The underside can also be fitted with water dropping tanks that carry 320 gallons of water and have the ability to pump water from a reservoir or other water source or they can be filled on the ground with fire hoses.

Emergency operations

Battalion 1 - Central Mountains/Desert

Battalion 1 comprises the southeastern portion of Kern County. It is divided by Highway 58 that runs east and west and by Highway 14 that runs north and south. A portion of the California Aqueduct, which runs north and south, serves as the eastern boundary of the State Responsibility Area (SRA) for Battalion 1. The western edge of the SRA in Battalion 1 is established by the southeastern edge of the San Joaquin Valley. Battalion one provides fire protection services for the incorporated cities of Tehachapi, Arvin and Rosamond. Station 11 in Keene serves as HQ for Battalion 1. There is also Stations 12,13,14,15,16,17,18 and a Camp station.[5]

Stations

• 11: Keene (Battalion 1 HQ)
• 12: Tehachapi
• 13: Golden Hills
• 14: Mojave
• 15: Rosamond
• 16: Bear Valley
• 17: Boron
• 18: Stallion Springs
• Camp 8: Monolith

Battalion 2 - Western Kern

Battalion 2 makes up most of the west side of the County of Kern, specifically areas west of Highway 33 and the area surrounding Highway 166. There are no large incorporated cities within Battalion 2. Station 21 in Taft serves as Battalion 2 HQ. There is also Stations 22,23,24,25 and 26.[6]

Stations

• 21: Taft (Battalion 2 HQ)
• 22: Maricopa
• 23: Fellows
• 24: McKittrick
• 25: Buttonwillow
• 26: Lost Hills

Battalion 3 - North Kern

Kern County Fire Department Bell 205.

Battalion 3 includes the north central portion of the county with Highway 65 serving as the western boundary. Station 33 in McFarland serves as Battalion 3 HQ and there is also Stations 31,32,34,35,36 and 37.[7]

Stations

• 31: Wasco
• 32: Shafter
• 33: McFarland (Battalion 3 HQ)
• 34: Delano
• 35: Woody
• 36: Glennvile
• 37: Delano West

Battalion 4 - Foothill

Battalion 4 comprises the unincorporated parts of Bakersfield to the East and South. Station 41 in Virginia Colony serves as Battalion 4 HQ. There is also Stations 42,45,51,52 and 53.[8]

Stations

• 41: Virginia Colony (Battalion 4 HQ)
• 42: Niles
• 45: Edison
• 51: Lamont
• 52: Greenfiled
• 53: Old River

Battalion 5 - Mt. Pinos

Kern County Fire Patrol 57

Battalion 5 is located in the South and South West portion of the County bordering Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Included in Battalion 5's coverage area are the cities of Lebec, Frazier Park, Lake of the Woods, Pinion Pines and Pine Mountain Club. Station 55 in Tejon Ranch serves as Battalion 5 HQ and there is also Stations 54,56,57 and 58.[9]

Stations

• 54: Arvin
• 55: Tejon Ranch (Battalion 5 HQ)
• 56: Lebec
• 57: Frazier Park
• 58: Pine Mountain Club

Battalion 6 - Valley Metro

Stations

• 61: Norris
• 62: Meadows Field
• 63: Highland
• 64: River View
• 65: Greenacres (Battalion 6 HQ)
• 66: Landco
• 67: Rosedale

Battalion 7 - Eastern Kern

Battalion 7 is located in the northeast portion of the county. Within the coverage area are the towns of Havilah, Lake Isabella, Bodfish, Wofford Heights, Kernville, Randsburg,and incorporated city of Ridgecrest, California.[10]

Stations

• 71: South Lake (Battalion 7 HQ)
• 72: Lake Isabella
• 73: Inyokern
• 74: Ridgecrest
• 75: Randsburg
• 76: Kernville
• 77: Ridgecrest Heights
• 78: Piute
• 79: Alta Sierra (Seasonal)

Rank structure

• Fire Chief & Director of Emergency Services
• Chief Deputy
• Deputy Chief
• Battalion Chief / Fire Marshal / Arson Chief
• Captain / Assistant Fire Marshal / Arson Investigator
• Engineer
• Firefighter

See also

• Bakersfield Fire Department

References

1. "About Us". Kern County Fire Department. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
2. "Stations List". Kern County Fire Department. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
3. "N Number N407KC". FAA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
4. "N Number N408KC". FAA. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
5. "Unit Strategic Fire Plan Kern County Fire Department - Battalion 1" (PDF). Kern County Fire Department. 23 June 2011. p. 5. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
6. "Unit Strategic Fire Plan Kern County Fire Department - Battalion 2" (PDF). Kern County Fire Department. 23 June 2011. p. 6. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
7. "Unit Strategic Fire Plan Kern County Fire Department - Battalion 3" (PDF). Kern County Fire Department. 23 June 2011. p. 6. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
8. "Kern County Fire Department Wildland Fire Management Plan" (PDF). Kern County Fire Department. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
9. "Unit Strategic Fire Plan Kern County Fire Department - Battalion 5" (PDF). Kern County Fire Department. 23 June 2011. p. 6. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
10. "Unit Strategic Fire Plan Kern County Fire Department - Battalion 7" (PDF). Kern County Fire Department. 23 June 2011. p. 7. Retrieved 14 January 2014.