DATE OF FORMATION: February 18, 1924
ENABLING LEGISLATION: The Saratoga Fire District operates under the provisions of Part 2.7 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code (Sections 13801 through 13999). The district has been reorganized several times; the latest reorganization in 1962 was in accord with Health and Safety Code sections 14001 through 14306.
GOVERNING BOARD AND MEMBERSHIP: The Saratoga Fire District is governed by a three member Board of Fire Commissioners. The Board is elected for a four-year term by voters residing in the Fire District. Membership on the Board is limited to residents living within the boundaries of the Saratoga Fire Protection District.
The Board of Fire Commissioners consists of:
| Robert Egan, Board Chairman | Term expires 11/03 |
| Joe Long | Term expires 11/05 |
| Jay R. Geddes | Term expires 11/05 |
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS: The members of the Board of Fire Commissioners have the ultimate responsibility of ensuring the lawful and efficient operation of the District. It is their responsibility to ratify all annual budgets, expenditures, and to establish and/or ratify annual salaries, wages, and benefits. The members of the Board set the official policy of the District, establish rules and regulations related to the operation of the District, and establish any ordinances required to enforce the Uniform Fire Code. It is the Board's responsibility to provide fire, health, and safety services required in accord with established legislation.
EMPLOYEES AND FACILITIES: The District employs 24 full-time firefighting personnel and approximately 25 volunteer firefighters. In addition, the district employs a fire chief, a business manager, assistant chief, fire marshall, EWAS coordinator and a part-time general office clerk. The district maintains a fire station at 14380 Saratoga Avenue and operates two "on-line" firefighting vehicles, one reserve vehicle, one command vehicle, a multi-purpose truck which performs rescue and serves as an additional source of air and light, and one administrative vehicle.
PRESENT OPERATIONS: The district provides fire protection services to approximately 12 square miles encompassing one-half of the City of Saratoga and sections of the unincorporated areas to the south. Approximately 20,000 people reside within the District's service area. Annexation of the Bohlman Road and Mt. Eden Road areas has been completed adding approximately 2,729 acres to the District. Included in the district are:
| 1. | SCHOOLS |
| West Valley College | |
| Saratoga High School | |
| Redwood Junior High School | |
| 3 Public K-6 schools | |
| 2 Parochial K-8 Schools | |
| 3 Nursery Schools |
| 2. | MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS |
| Saratoga City Offices | |
| Saratoga Civic Auditorium | |
| Saratoga City Community Center | |
| Saratoga City Library | |
| Saratoga City Building and Maintenance Yard | |
| United States Post Office | |
| Saratoga Union School District Maintenance and Bus Storage Area |
| 3. | OTHER AREAS |
| 3 Rest Homes | |
| 1 Retirement Home Complex | |
| Several Condominium Complexes | |
| Shopping Center | |
| 6 Churches | |
| Historic Saratoga Village | |
| Montalvo Cultural Center | |
| The Mountain Winery |
COMMUNICATIONS: The District operates and mans its own Emergency Communications Center using a VHF dispatch frequency (154.205 MHz) for primary radio communications. The center serves as a "hub" for all District fire and life safety emergency situations as well as for disaster activities that may involve the Fire District. The center is a secondary 911 PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) with dedicated 7-digit emergency phone numbers, has RED NET capability, and direct phone lines to County Communications. A back-up generator keeps all emergency equipment running in case of a power failure.
EWAS: To further expedite service to the community, the District monitors an Early Warning Alarm System (EWAS). The EWAS is a city-mandated ordinance that requires a fire detection system in newly constructed homes over 5,000 square feet, remodeled homes expanded over 50% of the original square footage, any new construction in the Hazardous Hillside Area, and new commercial construction. The advantage of the system is its capacity to detect fires in the incipient stage and immediately notify the Saratoga Fire District through the combination telephone dialer and radio frequency transmitter. Currently there are approximately 600 alarm accounts on-line.