Benicia Fire Department - Operations

The Fire Department responds to all types of reported fires. Some fire suppression activities include: fires in structures, vehicle fires, wildland/vegetation fires, and other miscellaneous fires. In addition, the department responds to other local communities and throughout the State of California through a statewide mutual aid program.

Emergency Medical Services: The City of Benicia Fire Department provides paramedic services to its citizens in the form of Advanced Life Support (ALS) staffed engines. All career firefighting personnel are trained and certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT.) Additionally, each station is staffed, 24/7, with at least one firefighter who is a California state licensed Paramedic. Ambulance transport services are provided by a privately owned company. The department is active in both promoting public access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in locations throughout the city as well as encouraging layperson CPR training in the community.

The City of Benicia Fire Department provides rescue services to its citizens in the form of a cross-staffed light rescue apparatus. In addition to fireground rescue services, the department performs rescues involving people entrapped in vehicles, land based water rescue, high angle rescue, and confined space rescue. All career firefighting personnel are trained and certified to the Confined Space Rescue Operations level and Rescue Systems-1 level. The Solano County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team includes six firefighters from the Benicia Fire Department. The USAR team is trained and certified in multiple types of rescue: trench, confined space, high and low angle, and rescue systems.

The City of Benicia Fire Department responds to emergency and non-emergency hazardous materials incidents. Such incidents include actual or potential spills, leaks, and exposures to substances that pose a threat to life, health, and/or property. All career firefighting personnel are certified as Hazardous Materials First Responders and are trained to recognize and isolate a hazardous material incident, placing the safety of the public and emergency responders as the foremost priority.

In addition to Hazmat First Responder personnel, the Department has additional firefighters who are trained as Hazmat Technician Specialists and respond as members of the Solano County Hazardous Material Team. The Solano County HazMat Team is a certified Type-2 HazMat Team and is comprised of members from the Benicia Fire Department, Fairfield Fire Department, Fairfield Police Department, Vacaville Fire Department, Vallejo Fire Department, and the Solano County Sheriffs Department. All members are California State Certified Hazardous Materials Technician Specialists. The mission of the Hazmat Team is to reduce the impact of hazardous materials incidents on life, the environment and property.  The team is an all risks Hazmat team capable of specialized entry, chemical analysis and hazard mitigation.

Benicia is a water-front community with over 10 miles of shoreline. To protect life and property in the water, the Benicia Fire Department operates a robust Water Rescue Program. Our firefighters perform water rescue as needed for our residents and visitors. They are trained swimmers, boat operators, and boat crew members. The water rescue team undergoes regular training and swim testing to maintain readiness. Over the last five years, the Department has responded to an average of one water rescue per month.

After every significant fire, members of the Benicia Fire Department examine the physical attributes of a fire scene and identify and collect physical evidence from the scene. This evidence is then analyzed to help determine the cause of the fire. The Solano County Fire Investigative Unit Team includes four firefighters from the Benicia Fire Department. The FIU Team investigates the origin and cause of fires county-wide. It also assists in the prosecution of arson or other criminal fire cases.