Novato Fire Protection District

Type I Engines - The District operates daily with four Type I fire engines. Two additional Type I Engines are reserve units and are placed in service when the front line units must be taken out of service for maintenance or are staffed by off duty firefighters when large incidents occur in the District. Type I Engines are staffed with a Captain who is in charge of the personnel and the unit, an engineer who is responsible for driving and pumping with the unit and a firefighter or firefighter/paramedic. Type I Engines carry all of the tools needed by our firefighters to do their job from firefighting to medical aids. They are in essence are a stand alone unit. Our Type I engines are capable of pumping 1500 gallons per minute and carry 800 feet of 5 inch hose, 800 feet of 2.5 inch hose, and several hundred feet of 1 1/2 and 1 3/4 inch hose. They also carry self contained breathing apparatus and Advanced Life Support medical equipment.

Type III Engines- The District operates daily with two Type III Engines. Type III Engines are staffed with a Captain who is in charge of the personnel and the unit, an Engineer who is responsible for driving and pumping with the unit and a Firefighter or Firefighter/Paramedic. The Districts two Type III Engines are designed and used to fight wildland fires. They are four wheel drive units and carry 500 gallons of water and 30 gallons of wildland firefighting foam. The standard hose compliment is 500 feet of 3 inch, 1200 feet of 1 1/2 inch, and 800 feet of 1 inch hose. Type III Engines are capable of pumping water while they are being driven or when parked.

Ladder Truck - The District operates daily with one 105’ Ladder Truck. The Ladder Truck is staffed with a Captain who is in charge of the personnel and the unit, and two engineers who are responsible for driving and operating the aerial ladder. Ladder Trucks are used to rescue people trapped by fire in tall buildings, they are also used to provide elevated fire streams for large building fires and are equipped to respond to vehicle accidents with the jaws of live and other related technical rescue equipment.

Ambulances - The District operates daily with two Paramedic Ambulances and two Ambulances that are staffed by Engine Company personnel. The District has a 5th ambulance that is in reserve status. The District’s Ambulances are staffed with a two Firefighter Paramedics. One of the Firefighter Paramedics is responsible for driving the unit and maintaining communications with the hospital the other is responsible for patient treatment and care. The District’s Ambulances also carry self contained breathing apparatus and in addition to responding to medical calls are dispatched to all structure fires in the District.

Squad - The District operates one Heavy Rescue Squad. The Squad is staffed the same personnel who are responsible for driving and operating the aerial ladder, one Captain and two Engineers. The Squad carries the Jaws of Life, a light platform and most of the other tools to perform technical rescues.

Water Tender - The Novato Fire District operates daily with one water tender. The Water Tender is staffed by personnel from either an Engine Company or the Truck Company. The Water Tender is used to supply water to engines in areas where there are no fire hydrants. Although the majority of the Novato Fire District has an adequate fire hydrant system some of our outlying areas do not. It is in these areas that water tender is used to supply Type I Engines with water to fight structure fires. Water Tenders are also used to supply water to Type III Engines on Wildland fires. Novato’s water tender carries 2800 gallons of water and can pump 500 gallons of water per minute.

Rescue Boat - The Novato Fire District operates one Rescue Boat which is staffed the personnel from Fire Station 2. District personnel are trained and equipped to conduct surface rescues in the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay. The District Water Rescue boat is 14’ long and is powered by a 45 horse power outboard motor.

Command Vehicles - The Novato Fire District operates daily with one Battalion Chief who is in charge of the day to day operations of the District. The Battalion Chief operates from a Command Vehicle which is considered a mobile office. The command vehicle is the communications and decision making center on the emergency scene.