El Paso is the sixth largest city in the state of Texas and the twenty-second largest in the United States.

What we do

The El Paso Fire Department is the primary city agency responsible for responding to and mitigating incidents involving fire, aircraft accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, building explosions, search and rescue events, and water rescues. We also support other agencies such as the police department, health department when needed for other types of emergencies such as bomb threats.

Some of the functions we perform are:

• Aircraft Rescue
• Fire suppression
• Hazardous materials response
• Recruit and veteran training
• Fire Prevention
• Fire Investigations
• Special Operations
• Medical Response and Transport
• Fleet Maintenance
• Public Education
• Code Enforcement
• Dispatching

Who we are

The El Paso Fire Department consists of many different employees including:

• accountants
• dispatchers
• firefighters
• mechanics
• medics
• payroll clerks
• planner
• secretaries

EPFD facilities currently include thirty neighborhood fire stations, one airport fire station at the El Paso International Airport, and six support facilities. The support facilities include the administrative offices, maintenance, fire prevention, training academy, communications, and reserve center.

Firefighters assigned to Operations work 24 hour shifts, for an average of 56 hours per week. The station personnel change shifts at 11:45 AM and the Battalion Chiefs and Deputies change shift at 11:00 AM. The department consists of three shifts: A, B, and C. Each shift has one Deputy and six Battalion Chiefs. Pumpers, Ladders and Quints are staffed with a minimum of 3 personnel. Battalion units are staffed with one District Chief and one Fire Suppression Technician (driver). The dedicated HazMat Unit is staffed 24-hours a day with 6 personnel, one officer, one Fire Suppression Technician, and four firefighters.

Ambulances are staffed by both firefighters and medics. Personnel that are structurally certified firefighters staff the ambulances working 24 hour shifts. They work an average of 56 hours per week. Medical personnel that are not certified firefighters work 40 hours per week staffing ambulances that are placed in service during peak time hours from 3:30 pm to 1:30 am.

The ambulances staffed with structurally certified firefighters are called "rescues" and respond to structural fires and hazardous materials incidents in addition to responding to medical emergencies. They carry their firefighting equipment with them and assist in firefighting.

Ambulances staffed with medical personnel that are not structurally certified are known as "medics" and respond to incidents for the sole purpose of providing medical care.

The rank structure for the EPFD Operations personnel, in ascending order, includes Firefighter, Fire Suppression Technician, Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion or Division Chief, Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief, and Fire Chief. The Fire Chief and Assistant Chiefs are appointed positions. All other ranks are selected through competitive promotional exam.

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