Valley Center Fire Protection District (California)

Area Served[]

The Valley Center Fire Protection District (VCFPD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the unincorporated community of Valley Center, originally Bear Valley, Valley and Valley Centre, a small rural community located in northeastern San Diego County, California, approximately 45 miles northeast of the city of San Diego and 20 miles east of the Pacific Ocean coastline. Valley Center encompasses an area covering 84.5 square miles, and has a population of approximately 11,000. The VCFPD is bordered by several Native American reservations, as well as by the city of Escondido, the community of Deer Springs, and the unincorporated San Diego County communities of Bonsall. Lilac, Pala, Pauma Valley, and Rincon.

Mutual Aid[]

VCFPD has mutual aid agreements with the United States Forest Service, the CAL FIRE San Diego Unit, San Diego County Fire, the Deer Springs Fire Protection District, the Escondido Fire Department, the Pala Fire Department, the Pauma Reservation Fire Department, the Rincon Fire Department and the San Pasqual Reservation Fire Department,

Department Profile[]

The Valley Center Fire Protection District is budgeted for 95.5 personnel and has a daily staffing consisting of 8 captains, engineers, and firefighters. VCFPD's resources include two fire stations and four front-line emergency vehicles comprised of two engine companies, one paramedic rescue squad, and one duty chief vehicle, working three 48-hour rotating shifts. Daily staffing includes two firefighters on the District’s engines, as well as one paramedic- or EMT-level firefighter on the remaining crew positions of the ambulance and rescue squad. In addition. VCFPD cross staffs one OES water tender. All District response personnel are trained to either the EMT level capable of providing Basic Life Support (BLS) pre-hospital emergency medical care, or paramedic level capable of providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) pre-hospital emergency medical services. As of October 2023, VCFPD initiated a contract with the County of San Diego for funding of a paramedic ambulance transport service provided by San Diego County Fire. Prior to this date, EMS contract services were provided by Falck Mobile Health, formerly known as Care Ambulance Service. VCFPD responds to approximately 1,300 incidents annually, 76% of which are medical calls.

Dispatch[]

The Valley Center Fire Protection District contracts dispatch to a regional fire and emergency services communication system called the North County Dispatch Joint Powers Authority, commonly referred to as "North Comm", located in Rancho Santa Fe, which provides dispatch services for 15 fire agencies in North San Diego County.

History[]

In 1982, the citizens of Valley Center voted to create the Valley Center Fire Protection District to provide fire services and basic medical aid, overseen by a five member, elected volunteer board. The District, for a period of time, contracted services from CAL FIRE, which brought a wide array of resources. However, in August 2013, the District ended its contract with CAL FIRE due to an approximately 30 percent increase in annual fees. This increase created a situation that was no longer financially feasible for the District to continue in. Beginning in September of 2013, the District entered into a contract with the neighboring San Pasqual Reservation Fire Department that would provide revenue to add fire officer level staffing in conjunction with the District’s reserve firefighters. As of January 1, 2015, the contract with San Pasqual Reservation Fire Department came to an end with the District deciding to pursue a traditional format fire department with a fire chief, battalion chief, and six fire captains. As of March 21, 2024, bids are in for a temporary Fire Station No. 3 at Cole Grade Road and Cole Grade Lane, while a permanent third fire station is further down the line.

Fire Stations[]

Station	Address	In Service	Notes
72	28234 Lilac Road, Valley Center		Renumbered to Fire Station 1
73	28205 North Lake Wohlford Road, Valley Center		Renumbered to Fire Station 2

Apparatus Roster[]

All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
California License Plate denoted by CA#

Fire Station 1 - 28234 Lilac Road[]

Engine 161 (ALS) - 2014 Spartan ERV Star Series (1500/500/30A) (CA#1409839)
Brush 161 (ALS) - 2023 Freightliner M2 4x4 / BME Model 34 Targhee Type 3 wildland (500pto/500/20A)^[1]
Engine 169 (Reserve) - 1999 KME Renegade (1500/500/30A)
CP 1616 - Ford F-250 4x4

Fire Station 2 - 28205 North Lake Wohlford Road[]

Engine 162 (ALS) - 2008 Spartan Metro Star SMFD / Smeal (2000/500/30A) (SO#3530) (Ex-Engine 161)
Rescue Squad 162 (ALS) - 2017 Ram 5500 Crew Cab DRW 4x4 / MCB QRV (120/250/20A) (SN#M312) (CA#1464619)
Engine 168 (Reserve) - 1999 KME Renegade (1500/500/30A) (Ex-Engine 7772)
Cal OES Water Tender 6102 - 2003 Freightliner FL80 / Westates (500pto/2000/10A) (SN#02-880-03) (CA#959533) (VIN#1FVABXCS83DK80563) (Ex-OES Water Tender 62) (Formerly assigned to San Marcos FD)

Station Unknown[]

Chief 1601 - Ford F-250 SD XLT Crew Cab 4x4 w/ canopy (CA#1533862)
Chief 1602 -
Chief 1603 (Fire Marshal) - Ford F-250 XLT Crew Cab 4x4 w/ canopy (CA#1533868)
SDCoFD Medic 71 (ALS) - Ford F-Series Type I

Retired Apparatus[]

1992 Ford F-Series / E-One walk-in rescue (Ex-Squad 72)
1988 Ford C-8000 / G. Paoletti Type 3 wildland (750/1150) (Ex-Engine 72)
1986 International / G. Paoletti Type 3 wildland (500/1250) (Ex-Engine 73)
1980 GMC / E-One walk-around rescue (Ex-Squad 73)
1959 Crown Firecoach pumper (1250/500) (SN#F1133) (Ex-Engine 272)

External Links[]

Valley Center Fire Protection District

References[]

↑ https://www.valleycenter.com/articles/vcfpd-dedicates-new-brush-engine/

Station Map[]

Loading map...

[1] ttps://www.valleycenter.com/articles/vcfpd-dedicates-new-brush-engine/

[1]