El Paso is the sixth largest city in the state of Texas and the twenty-second largest in the United States.

What we do

The El Paso Fire Department is the primary city agency responsible for responding to and mitigating incidents involving fire, aircraft accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, building explosions, search and rescue events, and water rescues. We also support other agencies such as the police department, health department when needed for other types of emergencies.

Some of the functions we perform are:

• Aircraft Rescue
• Fire suppression
• Hazardous materials response
• Recruit and veteran training
• Fire Prevention
• Fire Investigations
• Special Operations
• Medical Response and Transport
• Fleet Maintenance
• Public Education
• Code Enforcement
• Dispatching

Who we are

The El Paso Fire Department consists of many different employees including:

• Accountants
• Administrative Assistants
• Dispatchers
• Firefighters
• Mechanics
• Medics
• Payroll Clerks
• Planner
• Secretaries

EPFD facilities currently include thirty-four fire stations, one fire station at the El Paso International Airport, and six support divisions. The support divisions include the administration, maintenance, fire prevention, the training academy, 911 center, and the reserve center.

Firefighters assigned to Operations work 24 hour shifts, for an average of 56 hours per week. The station personnel change shifts at 11:45 AM and the Battalion Chiefs and Deputies change shift at 11:00 AM. The department consists of three shifts: A, B, and C. Each shift has one Deputy and six Battalion Chiefs. Pumpers, Ladders, Quints and Squad 1 are staffed with a minimum of 3 personnel. Battalion units are staffed with one Battalion Chief and one Fire Suppression Technician (FST). The dedicated HazMat Unit is staffed 24-hours a day with 3 personnel, one officer, one Fire Suppression Technician, and one firefighter. Squad 1 is also assigned as part of the HazMat unit in conjunction with other incidents/duties.

Ambulances are staffed by both firefighters and medics. Personnel that are structurally certified firefighters staff the ambulances working 24-hour shifts. They work an average of 56 hours per week. Ambulances staffed with structurally certified firefighters are called Rescues and respond to structural fires and hazardous materials incidents in addition to responding to medical emergencies.

Ambulances staffed with medical personnel who are not structurally certified are known as "medics" and respond to incidents for the sole purpose of providing medical care. The personnel assigned to medic units do not engage in fire suppression duties.

The rank structure for the EPFD Operations personnel, in ascending order, includes Firefighter, Fire Suppression Technician, Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, and Fire Chief. The Fire Chief and Assistant Chiefs are appointed positions. All other ranks are selected through competitive promotional exam.

As of November 11, 2009, the El Paso Fire Department’s human and equipment resources are as follows:

print-version