Orange County Fire Authority

History

Prior to 1980, the Orange County Fire Department, as it was then known, was operated by CAL FIRE under contract. In May 1980, the Orange County Fire Department was formed to service the county. Over the next decade, multiple new cities were formed from what had been unincorporated areas of the county. Many of these cities chose to contract with the OCFD for fire services. In 1991 the OCFD began exploring the possibility of reorganizing as a separate agency, first as a Special District and then as a Joint Powers Authority. The County filed for bankruptcy in December 1994, which further encouraged Orange County Fire Department to reorganize as a JPA, known as the Orange County Fire Authority.

Stations & Equipment

The Operations Department of the OCFA is responsible for directly rendering aid to the community. In 2006, OCFA responded to 79,718 incidents within its jurisdiction and 4,084 mutual aid calls. The department is split into six geographic divisions numbered I–VI.

Division 1

Division I is located in the western area of Orange County. It covers the communities of Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton, and Westminster; and the unincorporated communities of Midway City, Rossmoor, and Sunset Beach. The division is covered by Battalion 1 and Battalion 8, commanding 15 Fire Stations. OCFA's helicopter fleet, based out of the Fullerton Municipal Airport, is part of Division I.

Division 2

Division II is located in the central area of Orange County covering the city of Irvine; along with the John Wayne Airport, Emerald Bay, and University of California, Irvine. It is covered by Battalion 5, commanding 8 Fire Stations.

Division 3

Division III is located in the southern and eastern areas of Orange County. It covers the cities of Dana Point, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, and San Juan Capistrano; along with the unincorporated communities of Coto de Caza, Ladera, Las Flores, Modjeska Canyon, Trabuco Canyon, and Talega. The division is covered by Battalion 6 and Battalion 7, commanding 18 Fire Stations.

Division 4

Division IV is located in the northern area of Orange County. It covers cities of Placentia, Tustin, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda; along with the unincorporated communities of El Modena, Orange Park Acres, Santiago Canyon, Silverado Canyon, and North Tustin. The division is covered by Battalion 2 and Battalion 3, commanding 12 Fire Stations.

Division 5

The fifth division covers the cities of Aliso Viejo, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, and Mission Viejo. The division is covered by Battalion 4 commanding 6 Fire Stations.

Division 6

Division VI is located in the center area of Orange County, covers the city of Santa Ana and is covered by Battalion 9 commanding 10 Fire stations.