Area Served[]
The Grass Valley Fire Department (GVFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Grass Valley, formerly Boston Ravine and Centerville, located in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Nevada County, Northern California, some 57 miles northeast of Sacramento and 88 miles west of Reno, Nevada. In addition, Grass Valley Fire provides fire protection and EMS for the city of Nevada City as well as for outlying portions of Western Nevada County. Grass Valley changed its name from Boston Ravine and Centerville to its current name when, during the late 1840's, a party of men searching for cattle came upon what they described as a “grassy valley”. Incorporated as a city on March 13, 1893, it encompasses an area covering 5.25 square miles, and serves a population of more than 17,000 permanent residents (combining both Grass Valley and Nevada City).
Mutual Aid[]
Grass Valley Fire has mutual aid agreements with the CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit, the Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, the Penn Valley Fire Protection District, the Rough and Ready Fire Protection District, and the Ophir Hill Fire Protection District.
Department Profile[]
The Grass Valley Fire Department, in combination with the former Nevada City Fire Department, is budgeted for 29 full time fire suppression employees (one fire chief, one division chief, three battalion chiefs, seven fire captains, and sixteen firefighters) plus 3 civilian employees in support roles (two fire prevention officers and one fire mechanic) working out of three fire stations, and providing structural firefighting, emergency medical services (EMS), fire prevention, fire investigation, code enforcement, disaster preparedness, and public education to the citizens of Grass Valley and Nevada City. The department's resources include four front-line emergency apparatus comprised of three engine companies, and one battalion chief's vehicle. Grass Valley FD cross staffs, one aerial ladder truck company, one Type 3 wildland engine, one rescue squad, one OES Type 1 engine, one OES Type 6 wildland unit, and a swift water rescue team. The Department responds to over 5,500 emergency calls annually, approximately 75% of those are for Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
History[]
The Grass Valley Fire Department was first organized in 1853 with the establishment of a Hook and Ladder Company. It is the third oldest active fire department west of the Mississippi River. June 7, 1858 marked the day that the fire company was organized under law as the Grass Valley Hook and Ladder Company. In 1861 the Grass Valley Hook and Ladder Company was reorganized into Protection Hose Company No. 1 and then again into Protection Engine Company No. 1. Over the course of 42 years three additional ladder companies were added to the department. In 2018, the Grass Valley Fire Department and the Nevada City Fire Department entered into a shared administration pilot program. With the success of that program the two agencies fully merged in 2020, with Nevada City contracting for services through Grass Valley FD.
Fire Stations[]
| Station | Address | In Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 201 Providence Mine, Nevada City | 2020-present | Former Nevada City FD Station. |
Apparatus Roster[]
All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
Fire Station 1 - 472 Brighton Street[]
Staffed jointly with Nevada County Consolidated Fire District
- Engine 1 - 2016 KME Severe Service (1500/500/20A)
- Cal OES Engine 334 - 2006 HME 1871-SFO SMFD / Westates Type 1 (1250,300pto/800/20A) (Wes SN#05-2600-08)
Fire Station 2 - 213 Sierra College Drive[]
- Battalion 1 - 20?? Ford F-250 4x4
- Engine 2 - 2015 KME Severe Service (1500/500/20A)
- Truck 2 - 2009 Smeal Sirius (2000/480/20F/105' rear-mount)
- Squad 2 - 201? Ram 4500 4x4
- Cal OES Brush Patrol 4609 (6063) - 2020 Ford F-550 4x4 / HME Ahrens-Fox Type 6 (500pto,200aux/300/20F) (CA#1616875) (VIN#1FD0W5HT9LED22973)
- Engine 202 (Reserve) - 2003 HME 1871 / Ferrara (1500/500/20A) (SN#H-2232)
Fire Station 5 - 201 Providence Mine, Nevada City[]
- Engine 5 - 2020 KME Severe Service (2000/500)
- Brush 5 - 2011 International 7400 4x4 / HME Ahrens-Fox Type 3 wildland (1000/750/20F)
Retired Apparatus[]
- 2005 Pierce Saber pumper (SN#16646) (Ex-Engine 205) (Sold August 31, 2023 Ritchie-Bros Auction)
- 1998 HME 1871-SFO / Central States pumper (1250/500/30A) (SN#1180598) (Ex-Engine 2B)
- 1980 American LaFrance Century quint (1500/350/75' rear-mount) (SN#CE-6613) (Ex-Truck 2)
- 1959 Ford F-350 / Van Pelt pumper (SN#1448) (Ex-Engine 1)