The UCSC Fire Department is responsible for responding to all fire, medical and hazardous materials emergencies on the 2,000-plus acre campus, as well as providing mutual aid to surrounding communities. The department responds to approximately 600 calls per year, both on and off campus.
Structural Fire Response
A UCSC Captain participating in live-fire training.
The Fire Department is equipped and trained to respond to any fire that may occur on campus. Although structural fires are rare, they present a significant threat to life, property and the environment. UCSC firefighters are all well trained in responding to structural fires and Engine 2710, the primary response unit on campus, is a fully equipped Type 1 fire engine.
The Fire Department also responds through mutual aid to all confirmed structure fires on the west side of Santa Cruz and can be dispatched on all second-alarm structure fires throughout the county. This type of cooperation is essential in the fire service, because in the event of a major campus fire, units from other local fire departments would respond to assist as well.
Wildland Fire Response
Response to a small grass fire on campus.
In addition to Engine 2710, the Fire Department also maintains and operates Engine 2730, a Type 3 fire engine setup primarily for wildland fire response. Over half of the campus acreage is undeveloped forest and grassland, meaning that wildland fires on campus are a real possibility. UCSC firefighters train on wildland response frequently, and many have significant wildland firefighting experience prior to joining the campus fire department.
The Fire Department provides mutual aid for wildland fires statewide. It is not uncommon during fire season to see one of the campus fire engines in San Diego, Los Angeles or elsewhere assisting with major incidents. Off-duty personnel work overtime during these times to ensure that the campus is still covered 24/7.
Emergency Medical Response
UCSC Firefighters working with AMR Paramedics and
Stanford Life Flight during a medical emergency.
All UCSC firefighters are trained at a minimum as Emergency Medical Technicians and serve as first responders for all medical emergencies on campus. Paramedic ambulance service to the campus, as well as the rest of Santa Cruz County, is provided by American Medical Response, a private ambulance company contracted by the county. The department also works closely with two air ambulance providers, CALSTAR and Stanford Life Flight, who provide medical airlift to one of the area trauma centers for seriously injured patients.
Hazardous Materials Response
A firefighter is decontaminataed during the
Sinsheimer Lab Fire in 2002.
UCSC actively participates in the Santa Cruz County Hazardous Materials Interagency Team (SCHMIT), which responds to major hazardous materials incidents county-wide and is staffed by personnel from several area fire departments. All SCHMIT team members are trained to either the Hazardous Materials Technician or Hazardous Materials Specialist level.
UCSC's involvement in SCHMIT includes three Fire Department personnel (one on each shift) and two Environmental Health and Safety personnel.
