🚒 History & Structure
• Founded in 1981 by volunteers; transitioned to an all‑career department in 1988 under the City Council .
• Station 1 (1165 N. McCain Ave) opened in 2007 with 21 staff.
• Station 2 was approved in 2020, construction began mid‑2022, and it officially began operations in November 2023—serving East San Luis .

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Coverage & Staffing
• Protects a 33‑square‑mile area with approximately 45,000 residents .
• Staff includes 63 full-time, 7 part-time firefighters, and 7 cadets/student firefighters .
• Organized into three 24‑hour shift crews (A, B, C) each led by a battalion chief, captains, engineers, firefighters, paramedics (CEPs), and EMTs .

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Leadership
• Chief Angel Ramirez, a paramedic who joined SLFD in 2004, became Fire Chief in 2019 after serving as Captain and Assistant Chief. He has a BS in Spanish education, a Certified Public Manager designation, and HazMat certification .

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Primary Services & Operations
• Fire suppression, advanced EMS including transport, hazardous materials response, and technical rescue .
• Community outreach includes CPR/First Aid classes, blood pressure screenings, fire safety education, and smoke detector/ household accident prevention .
• Conducts mandatory residential and commercial building inspections .

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Special Response & Training
• Maintains a certified HazMat team ready to respond to chemical leaks, spills, etc. .
• Personnel complete specialized medical training: in late 2024, eight firefighters graduated from a local paramedic academy .
• Participates in statewide trauma care programs (e.g., EPIC guidelines for brain injury) .

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Recent Highlights
• Opened Station 2 in November 2023 to improve east-side coverage and reduce response times from ~5–6 minutes to ~2–3 minutes .
• Responded safely to events like the October 2024 school bus fire, evacuating 32 students with no injuries .

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Mission & Core Values
• Operates 24/7/365 to safeguard lives and property .
• Emphasizes Compassion, Bravery, Integrity, Honesty, Pride, Trust, and Excellence as core values .

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🔍 In summary

The San Luis Fire Department is a fully professional, mission-driven agency expanding alongside its community. With two modern stations, a robust staff including paramedics and HazMat technicians, they deliver a full range of emergency and community services—from firefighting and emergency medical care to public education and inspections. Under Chief Ramirez’s leadership, SLFD continues strengthening its operational capabilities and response excellence.

Let me know if you’d like more details on a specific program, staffing, or performance metrics!