ABOUT FORT BRAGG FIRE DEPARTMENT

MISSION STATEMENT

1. Protect Life
Provide structural fire rescue1 extrication, medical aide, water/cliff rescues and any other means to protect the people in our community from harm.


II. Protect Property
Use all of our resources to minimize damage created by any form of disaster, be it fire, flood, earthquake or hazardous material  spill.


III. Safe Guard the Environment
Use our resources to contain hazardous material spills, extinguish wildland fires.


IV. Provide a Safe Area for Townspeople and Visitors
Using fire prevention codes, make our district as safe as  possible.


V. Be Prepared to Assist in Any Emergency 
By constantly attending training sessions, we will be able to mitigate unfortunate incidents in our district.


VI. Maintain Professionalism
Maintain the high level of professionalism that makes members proud to be a part of the Fort Bragg Fire Department and keeps our community proud of their Fire Department.

DEPARTMENT PROFILE

The Fort Bragg Fire Department, under one name or another, has been in existence for 110
years. Volunteer firefighters have dedicated themselves to protecting the life and property of this coastal community in which they live and work.

The Fort Bragg Fire Department has always been a very strong  volunteer fire department.
At this writing (2001), thirty-seven firefighters and one auxiliary member actively dedicate themselves to protecting life and property.

The Fort Bragg Fire Department has two stations, one on Main Street in Fort Bragg and one on Highway 20. There are plans in the future for a station near  Little Valley Road north of Fort Bragg.

The Department serves a population of approximately 15,000.

As the future unfolds, our needs will become many. With a sharp rise in emergency
responses over the past five years (1995-2001), the commitment of  the entire department has virtually doubled.

The Fire Department operates under the direction of the Fire Chief who is responsible to the
Board of the Joint Powers Authority.

NATURE OF OUR BUSINESS

The Fire and Rescue service is one of the most diverse and challenging professions known
today. It is the diversity that inspires most men and women to enter the service, whether as
volunteers or career employees. Imagine learning and devel9ping skills to cope with
situations ranging from building fires to childbirth, to hazardous chemical spills, to heart
attacks--to almost any imaginable emergency situation in between. Consider the challenge
of helping people at all hours of the day and night, seven days a week, in any kind of
weather, and very often under highly stressful conditions. That's why our profession is one
of the most rewarding of any in the community.


We exist for two basic purposes. First, to prevent fire or medical emergencies from
occurring. This is accomplished through fire prevention, fire safety education, health
maintenance education, building inspections, engineering and code enforcement programs.
Second, we prepare ourselves to control fire or medical emergencies when they do occur.
This is done through education, training, pre-incident planning, more training, use of state-
of-the-art equipment and more training. We are a para-military profession working in a
"hurry up and wait" environment.


This business is not for everyone. You need more than just a desire to help people. You
also need courage, dedication, assertiveness, and a willingness to learn new skills and face
new challenges. The fire and rescue service is not for the meek or timid or for those who
lose control of their emotions during times of crisis. Our service is one which calls on its
members to perform hot, sweaty, dirty, strenuous work, often in uncertain and hazardous
environments. The bottom line in our business is measured by how well our actions have
reduced loss of life, pain and suffering, and property damage. That is our service to the
people. The personal rewards and self-satisfaction each of us receives from participation in
the fire and rescue service are often beyond description. We all share a sense of
accomplishment after controlling a building fire, joy and elation when a child is born, the
deep satisfaction in reducing the suffering of accident victims and the ill, and the fulfillment
of teaching fire safety.


If you believe you have what it takes to meet the challenges of our business, we welcome
you to join us.