The Fire Chief of the UVFA reports to the City Manager and provides general administration and oversight of the City and District Fire Operations. A Fire Executive Committee (FEC) consists of two appointees each from the City Council and Fire District Board and provides advisory support to the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief coordinates and cooperates with the City and District regarding performance of services within their respective jurisdiction. The City and District provides direction to the Fire Chief regarding services or any desired special projects to be performed for them. The FEC collaborates regarding directions from their respective agencies, for the purpose of avoiding conflicting guidance or creating conflicts relating to priority of services.

The Fire Chief also actively participates as a member of the City of Ukiah’s management team which includes participation in staff meetings and workshops.

The UVFA service area covers approximately 90 square miles with a resident population of approximately 30,000. Within its boundaries are historic downtown buildings, county governmental buildings including a county courthouse and jail, Mendocino Community College, Dharma Realm Buddhist University, a local hospital, lower half of Lake Mendocino including the Coyote Dam, industrial and commercial complexes, expansive wildland urban interface areas, hotels, multi-family residential complexes, multiple mobile home parks, Ukiah Municipal Airport, US 101 and State Route 253.

The City provides financial and general services to the District as part of the JPA, including accounts payable, procurement, billing and accounts receivable, general accounting and reporting, budget development and monitoring, and other general services such as human resources and city clerk services.

The UVFA has an annual operating budget of approximately $5.2 million and is staffed by 16 full-time safety employees (Fire Chief, 2 Battalion Chief’s, 6 Captains, 6 Engineers and 3 Firefighters), one full-time administrative secretary and up to 20 dedicated volunteer firefighters that augment the career personnel including a Volunteer Division Chief. UVFA maintains four fire stations (two staffed with career personnel) with the daily staffing consisting of a minimum of two/two person crews cross staffing Type I (Structural) and Type II/III (Wildland Interface) Engines and an on-call Duty Officer. Each of the two staffed stations are assigned a utility vehicle and each of the four Chief Officers are assigned a staff/command vehicle. Reserve and Volunteer assigned apparatus includes a Type I Ladder Truck (Quint), Type I (Structural) Engine, Type V (Wildland) Engine, Type I Water Tender, Breathing Air Support Unit, Breathing Air and Light Trailer, USAR Trailer and Rescue Boat. UVFA is the host agency for the Redwood Empire Hazardous Incident Team (REHIT) Hazmat Unit and the Mendocino County Fire Chiefs Association’s Fire Safety Trailer.

UVFA is organized into the following divisions:

 

Administration

Provides leadership and management to the operations, training and safety, and fire prevention activities, including the implementation and liaison of the financial and general Services provided by the City of Ukiah and supports the UVFD Board and FEC functions.

Operations

Provides emergency response to fires, medical emergencies, traffic collisions, technical rescues, hazardous materials, explosions, floods and earthquakes, as well as non-emergency public service calls, through a consistent state of readiness. Volunteer Firefighters participate in training activities and augment career staffing during emergency and non-emergency activities.

Training and Safety

Ensures that all personnel complete annual in-service mandatory and recurrent training, all required medical continuing education and certifications, along with maintaining license and training records, administering skills testing, course development and instruction, maintaining and updating training materials, setting standards, assisting in recruitments and testing, all designed to attain and provide for a high level of proficiency and excellence for career and volunteer staff.

Fire Prevention

Ensures compliance and is responsible for administering the California Fire Code, as amended by the City and District, as it relates to new and existing businesses, schools, multifamily and permitted occupancies. Further, services are provided for new construction plan reviews and inspections, vegetation management and weed abatement, hazard abatement, along with fire cause and origin investigations, community awareness and safety programs, public education and outreach.