Fire Department Response Times
During an emergency, our fire department's response
time can mean the difference between life and death. The National Fire
Protection Association has a set standard of 5 minute response times.
According to a study conducted in 2005, our local fire stations did not
regularly meet that standard. We have great firefighters who do the best
they can with the resources they are given.
Local Fire Stations:
Engine 33,
Rancho Bernardo - 6 minutes 37 seconds
Engine 42,
Carmel Mountain Ranch - 6 minutes 44 seconds
Engine 40,
Rancho Peñasquitos - 6 minutes 30 seconds
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"In 2001, the National
Fire Protection (NFPA) developed a national benchmark standard, NFPA
1710, which details the minimum criteria for addressing the
effectiveness of public fire suppression operations and emergency
medical service delivery in protecting citizens and fire department
employees. The time standard of four minutes or less was chosen by
NFPA based on several criteria:
-
Clinical brain death
occurs in four-to-six minutes for a non-breathing patient.
-
Every one minute
without defibrillation decreases survival rate by 10 percent.
-
Flashover can occur
within the first several minutes during a structure fire.
-
Lightweight truss
systems can fail within 10 minutes during a structure fire,
causing roof collapse."
Source:
City Manager's Report, 1/6/04, REPORT NO. 04-022 - Subject:
Acceptable Standards of Emergency Response Coverage for San Diego
Fire-Rescue Department |
The Commission on Fire
Accreditation International recently denied accreditation to the City of
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department because of its inability to meet several
national standards of fire protection. The Fire Department is working to
improve the time it takes for them to arrive at an emergency, but as the
I-15 corridor develops with more homes, more traffic, and more people -
resources will be spread too thin and times will become even longer. New
facilities are needed, some 22 additional fire stations are recommended in
San Diego.
News reports/articles:
Heavy on calls, light on resources - Strapped San Diego Fire Department
refused accreditation, 3/26/06 - San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego Fire: The Truth By Frank DeClercq
Rescue Response Zones, 4/24/06-NBCSandiego.com
Ambulance in Scripps Ranch urged, 6/1/06 - San Diego Union-Tribune
Note: Carmel Mtn. Ranch does not have an ambulance.
City Documents:
City Manager's Report, 1/6/04, REPORT NO. 04-022 - Subject:
Acceptable Standards of Emergency Response Coverage for San Diego
Fire-Rescue Department
International
Executive Summary Sheet, 2/16/2006 Prepared By: San Diego Fire-Rescue
Department Subject: Committee on Fire Accreditation International This
is an informational summary explaining the process of accreditation under
the Committee on Fire Accreditation International.
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