Menlo Park Fire Protection District

 

District Profile

About the Menlo Park Fire Protection District

The Menlo Park Fire Protection District was established on January 3, 1916, by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. As a special district under the Fire Protection District Law of 1987 (Health and Safety Code, Section 13800) of the State of California, the District provides fire protection and emergency services to a diverse and dynamic region in the heart of Silicon Valley.

 

Located on the southern edge of San Mateo County, just north of Santa Clara County and south of San Francisco, the District spans approximately 30 square miles and serves an estimated population of 90,000 residents. It covers the cities of Atherton, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, as well as parts of unincorporated San Mateo County. The region is home to major institutions, including Stanford University, Stanford Hospital, and Meta (formerly Facebook), and is a hub for venture capital, research, and development. The District also includes prominent sites like the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the Stanford Research Institute (SRI International).

 

As the primary first responder in the area, the District handles over 10,000 emergency calls annually, which are reported to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). Emergency dispatch is managed by a countywide consolidated fire dispatch center. Additionally, the District participates in the San Mateo County boundary-drop plan, where the closest available apparatus responds to emergencies, regardless of jurisdiction, ensuring rapid and efficient service across the region.

Board of Directors

The Menlo Park Fire Protection District is governed by a Board of Directors, consisting of five locally elected residents who serve four-year, staggered terms. Any registered voter in the District who is at least 18 years old is eligible to run for a Board seat. Elections are held every two years, in even-numbered years.

 

The Board elects its President and Vice President for one-year terms. Board members attend all regular, special, and committee meetings to which they are assigned.

 

The Board’s primary role is to serve as the policy-making body, governing the District’s activities and shaping its future. At the same time, the Board delegates the responsibility for day-to-day administration and operations to the Fire Chief and professional staff, who carry out these duties in accordance with the Board's policies and guidelines.

Fire Stations and Facilities

The Menlo Park Fire Protection District operates a network of seven strategically located fire stations, along with several other specialized facilities, to ensure prompt and efficient emergency response across its service area. These facilities support the District’s mission to provide high-quality fire protection and emergency services. Key facilities include:

 

  • Seven Fire Stations: The District’s fire stations are strategically placed to minimize response times and optimize coverage within the communities of Menlo Park, Atherton, East Palo Alto, and unincorporated areas of San Mateo County. These stations ensure rapid response to emergencies, whether in residential, commercial, or industrial areas.

  • Administration and Fire Prevention Building: This facility serves as the District’s headquarters, housing administrative personnel in administration, finance, IT, and fire prevention services. It plays a central role in the operational and strategic management of the District.

  • Annex Building: This auxiliary facility supports administrative operations and houses the human resources team and the Capital Improvement Projects Manager. It provides additional space for District functions and services.

  • Special Operations Warehouse: This facility stores specialized emergency response equipment, including resources for swift water rescue, hazardous materials response, and other technical rescue operations. It ensures the District’s teams are equipped to handle a wide range of complex emergencies.

  • Additional Properties: The District owns several properties, including those at 28 Almendral Avenue, 2110 Valparaiso, and 1457 Chilco. These properties serve various purposes, including storage, and provide additional land for future projects, such as rebuilding fire stations to meet evolving community needs.

 

While the District owns most of its facilities, Station 77 in Menlo Park is an exception. It is leased from the City of Menlo Park and plays a key role in providing fire protection services for Menlo Park and surrounding areas.

 

All of the District’s facilities are designed and maintained to support the core mission of providing efficient, high-quality fire protection and emergency services to its communities. Through careful planning and strategic placement of these resources, the District ensures rapid response times, effective emergency management, and continued public safety across its service area.

District Staff

The District has 152 authorized full-time positions in the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY24) adopted budget. The majority of the District’s employees, approximately 77% of positions authorized in the FY25 budget, are sworn personnel. This group includes the fire chief, deputy chief, division chiefs, battalion chiefs, captains, engineers, firefighters, and fire inspectors. The remaining 23% of District staff includes personnel from departments such as finance, human resources, information technology, fire prevention, fleet, board clerk, grant management, and general administration. 

California Task Force 3 Urban Search and Rescue

On October 12, 1990, the District formalized an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of California to serve as the sponsoring agency for California Task Force 3 (CA-TF3) Urban Search and Rescue (US&R). This task force is one of 28 teams that form the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System, providing essential emergency response services. Over the years, CA-TF3 has built a distinguished reputation for its response to some of the most critical national emergencies.

 

The US&R Management Department oversees the acquisition and management of federal funding through the Cooperative Agreement, ensuring CA-TF3 is fully prepared for deployment in response to federal disasters. The department follows federal guidelines and manages all expenditures in compliance with directives from the program office.