About

About Us and What We Do

Overview

GVFD operates out of Fire Station 1 & Fire Station 2 (Grass Valley) & Fire Station 5 (Nevada City)

To ensure the Fire Department continues to provide the highest level of emergency response services to our community, in September 2021 City Council approved our proposal to enhance staffing by adding 2 Battalion Chief positions. Battalion Chiefs are an integral position within the Fire Department. In addition to making important strategical and tactical decisions on incidents, they manage a variety of daily operations and personnel matters within the fire station.

GVFD maintains three shifts, each managed by one of our Battalion Chiefs: Gary Dunne, Chris Armstrong, and Orion Clemens. Individually, and collaboratively, each BC oversees increasingly complex incidents, manages multi-jurisdictional emergency response, and plans for increased fire threats to the community, including evacuation prep.

Due to the location of our fire stations, we play a crucial role in the fire service and emergency response throughout Western Nevada County. The response services we provide to the unincorporated areas of Nevada County are part of the boundary drop agreement we’ve maintained with Nevada County Consolidated Fire District (NCCFD) for more than 20 years. We also have a Mutual Threat Zone agreement with Cal Fire. All of these partnerships guarantee that any wildland fire incidents within the City leverage the full weight of response from GVFD, NCCFD, and Cal Fire. 

Equipment

The Fire Department operates 3 front line fire engines, one from each fire station, cross staffs a 105 Truck Company (the only truck of its kind in Western Nevada County), along with a Type III engine and an Office of Emergency Services Type 1 and Type 6 fire engine. Grass Valley Firefighters protect more than 17,000 permanent residents (both Cities) a day time population of 20,000 +

GVFD responded to more than 5,540 calls for service in 2021.

Post

Truck 2

Truck 2 is located at Station 2 and is cross staffed by the crew there. This is the only truck in western Nevada County and is often requested to assist with incidents outside of the city. It is a 2009 Smeal 105ft. ladder truck with a 2000GPM pump and 480 gallons of water. It carries a full set of extrication equipment (Jaws of Life), high and low angle rope rescue equipment, and confined space equipment in addition to firefighting and medical equipment.

Post

Engine 1

Engine 1 responds out of Station 1 and is staffed by a minimum of 2 firefighters 24/7 and is often supplemented by an intern. Station 1 is a joint staffed station meaning there is one Grass Valley City employee and one Nevada County employee on shift each day. Engine 1 carries a full set of vehicle extrication equipment (Jaws of Life), low angle rope rescue equipment and a small compliment of swift water equipment in addition to firefighting and medical equipment. Engine 1 is a 2016 KME Servere Service Type 1 fire engine with a 1500GPM pump and 500 gallons of water.

Post

Engine 2

Engine 2 responds out of station 2 and is staffed by a minimum of 2 firefighters 24/7, but often times has three or four Grass Valley Firefighters as well as an intern. It carries a full set of vehicle extrication equipment (Jaws of Life), and low angle rope rescue equipment in addition to firefighting and medical equipment. Engine 2 is a 2015 KME Severe Service type 1 pumper with a 1500GPM pump and 500 gallons of water.

Post

Engine 2B

Engine 2B is in reserve status and located at Station 2. When the first out engine needs maintenence the crews will respond on this piece of equipment. Engine 2B is a 2003 Ferrara type 1 fire engine with a 1500GPM pump and 500 gallons of water.

Post

Engine 5

Engine 5 responds out of station 5 in Nevada City.

Post

California OES Fire Engine

The Grass Valley Fire Department staffs and maintains a California OES fire engine. Our OES 334 engine is located at station 1 and can be called at any time to assist anywhere in the state through the state mutual aid system. This engine is often called to assist on large wildfires during the summer months and used at home as a reserve engine when needed.