Background Information
The Firebaugh Fire Department is located in the California Central San Joaquin Valley. Firebaugh is located approx. 40 miles west of Fresno, 25 miles south west from Madera, 14 miles south east from Dos Palos, bordering Fresno and Madera County lines. The City of Firebaugh has a population of approx. 6,200.
The Firebaugh Fire Department, offically organized in 1920, is one of the oldest continuously operating all volunteer fire departments in the San Joaquin Valley. The department was one of the first volunteer fire departments in the Central California Valley to respond to all medical emergencies, and was the first such non-ambulance operating fire departments to do so, with staffing composed of certified emergency medical technicians. Currently the FFD has 23 active members, several members being cross trained certified EMT-1's with AED certification, and other members trained in professional first-aid and CPR.
On Sept. 29, 2002 Fire Chief J. Borboa announced that the FFD put into service, two LP500 Bi-Phasic Automated External Defibrillators. The acquisition of both AEDs could not have been accomplished without the assistance and perseverance of Ms. Cindy McCoy, Project Coordinator for the Community Hospital's Cardiac Care Project, and the generosity of Mr. Larry Kitahara, President of Kitahara GMC-Pontiac of Fresno. One AED unit was acquired through the Community Hospitals Cardiac Care Project and the second unit was donated to the FFD by Mr. Kitahara. Monetary Donations by members of the Firebaugh community were used by the FFD to purchase two AED trainers to provide continued training for members of the FFD.