HISTORY
HISTORY
The San Mateo Consolidated (SMC) Fire Department officially commenced operations on January 13, 2019. The department was formed by the establishment of a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and represents the merger of fire departments in San Mateo, Foster City, and Belmont. At that time, it was the first JPA to commence operations in the State of California in nearly a decade.
SMC Fire has over 260 years of combined history providing emergency services in the three communities. The new department is staffed by 154 personnel that provide emergency services utilizing 10 engine companies and two ladder trucks from the existing nine fire stations. The consolidation allows SMC Fire to continue providing comprehensive emergency response services to all three cities in a more cost-effective way, while maintaining the high level of service the communities rely upon.
The efforts to explore this collaboration began in 2010 when Foster City and San Mateo agreed to share duties of then Fire Chief Dan Belville. Over the next two years, the two cities expanded their partnership to include other key Command Staff positions. In 2013, under the leadership of Fire Chief Mike Keefe, the City of Belmont/Belmont Fire Protection District joined the partnership. At that time, the three cities agreed to share, jointly staff, and relocate the Foster City Ladder Truck to a centralized location that better served the three communities. In 2015, newly appointed Fire Chief John Healy was directed by the three City Managers to study the viability of completing the merger of all fire protection services. The goal was to continue to provide the same high-quality emergency services in a more sustainable model. Staff from the cities and fire departments explored available options and determined a JPA was the most viable option.
The JPA was officially established on November 22, 2017, and on January 13, 2019, SMC Fire commenced operations as an independent fire department.
The San Mateo Consolidated (SMC) Fire Department officially commenced operations on January 13, 2019. The department was formed by the establishment of a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and represents the merger of fire departments in San Mateo, Foster City, and Belmont. At that time, it was the first JPA to commence operations in the State of California in nearly a decade.
SMC Fire has over 260 years of combined history providing emergency services in the three communities. The new department is staffed by 154 personnel that provide emergency services utilizing 10 engine companies and two ladder trucks from the existing nine fire stations. The consolidation allows SMC Fire to continue providing comprehensive emergency response services to all three cities in a more cost-effective way, while maintaining the high level of service the communities rely upon.
The efforts to explore this collaboration began in 2010 when Foster City and San Mateo agreed to share duties of then Fire Chief Dan Belville. Over the next two years, the two cities expanded their partnership to include other key Command Staff positions. In 2013, under the leadership of Fire Chief Mike Keefe, the City of Belmont/Belmont Fire Protection District joined the partnership. At that time, the three cities agreed to share, jointly staff, and relocate the Foster City Ladder Truck to a centralized location that better served the three communities. In 2015, newly appointed Fire Chief John Healy was directed by the three City Managers to study the viability of completing the merger of all fire protection services. The goal was to continue to provide the same high-quality emergency services in a more sustainable model. Staff from the cities and fire departments explored available options and determined a JPA was the most viable option.
The JPA was officially established on November 22, 2017, and on January 13, 2019, SMC Fire commenced operations as an independent fire department.
TRAINING DIVISION
The Training Division delivers programs that develop and maintain multiple skillsets for our response personnel and also strives to enhance the leadership development within the department.
Internal Training
Our Internal Training Division is responsible for all probationary training and testing, career development, promotional testing, implementation and maintenance of safety programs, supporting individual company level training, driver training, and any other training that maintains our mission to keep our personnel and community safe. The Internal Training Division has hosted three intense entry level firefighter academies at our Foster City Training Complex. The Fire Academy is a rigorous 10 week program that includes:
-
Live Fire Training
-
Water Rescue
-
Auto Extrication
-
Wildland Fire Training
-
Emergency Medical Services Training
-
Hazardous Material Incident Awareness
-
Ventilation Skills
-
Fire Hose Management
-
Ladders
-
Forcible Entry
…and many other basic Firefighter skills
Interested in learning more about our Fire Academy? View our 2017 Academy’s graduation video:
Robert Cook
Training Battalion Chief
Training Division
1040 E. Hillsdale Blvd
Foster City, CA 94404
(650)-522-7901
Regional Training
In an effort to create efficiencies in required training, and also maintain consistent standards between SMC Fire and our partner agencies in the County, SMC Fire is a participating member of the Central San Mateo County Training Division (www.csmctd.org). This division delivers both annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) training and state and federally required fire suppression/ rescue training via a “task force” configuration. Participating agencies include Central County Fire Department (Serving Burlingame, Millbrae, and Hillsborough), San Bruno Fire Department, and SMC Fire (Serving Belmont, Foster City and San Mateo).