7 Critical Ways Paso Robles Fire Department Is Expanding Emergency Services In 2025
The Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services (PRFES) is undergoing a significant operational expansion in 2025, redefining its capabilities to meet the growing demands of the City of El Paso de Robles. This year marks a pivotal moment for the department, with key strategic initiatives focusing on enhanced emergency medical response, community preparedness, and inter-agency cooperation. The updates, which include a major upgrade to medical services and a focus on proactive risk reduction, ensure that residents receive the most current and effective emergency care available today, December 21, 2025.
The PRFES operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing comprehensive fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services (EMS). With a history stretching back to the early 1890s as a volunteer fire department, the modern PRFES is a highly professional organization that continually adapts its staffing, equipment, and programs to safeguard the entire community and its surrounding areas.
The 2025 Operational Overhaul: New Paramedic Squad and Staffing Changes
The most transformative change for the department in 2025 is the official launch of the dedicated Paramedic Squad, set to become operational on Sunday, November 9, 2025. This new squad represents a major milestone in the city's commitment to enhanced Emergency Medical Services (EMS), allowing for a higher level of pre-hospital care directly from the fire department.
This expansion is a direct response to the community's increasing need for advanced medical intervention. Prior to this, the department relied heavily on partnerships, but the new squad allows PRFES to integrate advanced life support (ALS) more seamlessly into its existing emergency response protocols.
Key Personnel and Divisional Structure
The department is led by Fire Chief Jonathan Stornetta, who oversees all operations and administrative functions. The structure of PRFES is designed for efficiency and preparedness, utilizing several key divisions and personnel:
- Administration: Consists of the Fire Chief and an Administrative Assistant, managing the overall direction and fiscal health of the department.
- Operations Division: The core of emergency response, staffed by personnel like Fire Captains, Fire Apparatus Engineers, and Battalion Chiefs, who manage daily incidents.
- Community Risk Reduction Division: Focused on prevention, this division includes the Fire Marshal and a Fire Prevention Specialist, responsible for fire code enforcement, inspections, and public education.
Recent staffing updates have also seen internal promotions, such as Deputy Fire Chief Jay Enns, recognized for his advancement, ensuring experienced leadership remains within the ranks.
Strategic Fire Stations and Apparatus Roster
The rapid response capability of the Paso Robles Fire Department is anchored by its strategic network of fire stations. The department currently operates out of three primary stations within the city, with a fourth location serving as an auxiliary base.
Paso Robles Fire Stations:
- Station 1 / Public Safety Center: Located at 900 Park Street, this station serves as the administrative headquarters and a crucial central hub for emergency dispatches.
- Station 2: Located at 235 Santa Fe Ave, providing coverage to the western parts of the city.
- Station 3: Located at 2924 Union Rd, vital for responding to incidents in the eastern and northern areas, including the growing wine country region.
- Airport Station: Located at 4912 Airport Road, this station provides specialized coverage for the Paso Robles Municipal Airport.
The apparatus roster is continually updated to ensure maximum effectiveness. The fleet includes various Fire Trucks and Engines, such as the Type III Engine acquired in 2021, which is specifically designed for wildland fire response, a critical need in San Luis Obispo County. The department also manages the lifecycle of its equipment, recently donating 30 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs) to a fire department in Mexico after they exceeded the service life requirements for use in the United States.
Inter-Agency Cooperation and Community Safety Initiatives
PRFES's effectiveness extends beyond its city limits through robust Automatic Aid Agreements and cooperative partnerships. These agreements are essential for managing large-scale incidents, particularly during the intense California fire season.
The most significant partnership is with the CAL FIRE/San Luis Obispo County Fire Department. This agreement ensures that resources, including engines and Battalion Chiefs, are automatically dispatched from both agencies to incidents in border areas, such as those near CAL FIRE/SLO County Station 30 (located along Highway 101) and the Paso Robles Air Attack Base. PRFES also has aid agreements with neighboring agencies like the Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services and Templeton CSD.
2025 Community Preparedness Programs
Public engagement and education remain a core focus for the department in 2025. These programs are vital for building a resilient community capable of handling emergencies:
- 4th Annual Open House: Scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025, this event invites the public to meet the personnel, tour the stations, and learn about fire safety.
- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program: A key initiative, the CERT Basic Training Course is running in March 2025. This program trains volunteers in essential disaster response skills, including basic fire safety, disaster psychology, and search & rescue operations.
- Free Chipping Program: In partnership with the SLO County Fire Safe Council, this program helps residents create defensible space around their homes by chipping vegetation, a crucial step in wildfire mitigation.
- Emergency Advisories: The department stays proactive on current threats, such as the advisory released in February 2025 regarding an incoming atmospheric river storm, which helped residents prepare for potential flooding and high winds.
The combination of expanding medical services, strategic station placement, advanced apparatus, and strong inter-agency cooperation solidifies the Paso Robles Fire Department's role as a cutting-edge emergency service provider for the region.
Detail Author:
- Name : Darion Halvorson DVM
- Username : odell.kautzer
- Email : ofriesen@yahoo.com
- Birthdate : 1978-01-28
- Address : 412 Marley Burgs Mayertfurt, PA 33239-1783
- Phone : +1-913-812-0801
- Company : Williamson-Lowe
- Job : Costume Attendant
- Bio : Delectus veritatis odio natus nam ut. Quia et laudantium doloremque porro sit sequi doloremque. Et totam qui consequatur.
Socials
facebook:
- url : https://facebook.com/satterfield1998
- username : satterfield1998
- bio : Minus minus consequatur eum aperiam. Non expedita dicta quis harum debitis.
- followers : 1856
- following : 2250
instagram:
- url : https://instagram.com/hardy.satterfield
- username : hardy.satterfield
- bio : Dicta voluptatem aperiam non et blanditiis. Eos enim qui saepe enim blanditiis.
- followers : 1213
- following : 2906
