About
Our History
The Burbank-Paradise Fire District was formed in late 1942. World War two had started and the people of what would later become the fire district realized that they had no fire protection. Fire Warden Ozzie Ball worked with the residents of the proposed district. After several meetings the fire district was organized.
There was no money available for operation of the district until after the District’s property tax assessment was collected. Two business men in the district, Hugh Young and Raymond McCormick purchased a used 1939 Dodge truck from P.E. VanPelt in Oakdale, California. The two men used that truck as a chassis to build the districts first fire engine. This engine was a 250 gallon per minute, front-mount pumper which carried 400 gallons of water in its tank. When completed this engine was housed at Hugh Young’s service station on Paradise Road.
In 1943 the first fire house was built in the 1500 block of Vernon Avenue. This building (which had a dirt floor) was just large enough to house the districts one engine. At the time the Modesto Fire Department dispatched calls for the District. An old crank telephone was under a cabinet, members had to get down on their knees in order to operate it. There was a district phone line to a crank phone in our station. When the phone rang the station siren sounded. The first person there answered the phone and received the location of the call.
The firefighters held monthly meetings in their homes. The wives furnished refreshments. Members paid one dollar a month dues. In 1948 we moved to our present location at 1313 Beverly Drive. Members then had access to a club room and kitchen. Except for a brief quartering in the vacant gasoline station at Paradise & Carpenter (while our station was being remodeled) we have remained at this address to this day.
A short time later the district purchased our second engine, a 1948 G.M.C. 350 gallon per minute pumper with a 400 gallon water tank. This was quite the upgrade and very well received by the members. In 1954 we purchased our third engine, a G.M.C. 750 gallon per minute pumper with 750 gallon water tank. The district had to cut another door in the station in order to accommodate this engine.
In 1966 the old Dodge (deemed Old Betsy by members) was nearing the end of it’s life. The district replaced this engine with a 1966 G.M.C. 750 gallon per minute pumper. The district sold the old Dodge to Greely Hill Fire District. It was very hard for members to let it go. In 1976 the 1954 G.M.C. was sold to a lumber company in Fresno County. This pumper was eventually replaced with a 1976 International 1000 gallon pumper.
In 1988 the district purchased a used 1981 1000 gallon pumper from the American River Fire District as well as a used G.M.C. “mini-pumper” from Fairfield Fire Department.
** Work in progress, more historical information on the way! **
Demographics
The following information about the City of Burbank and BPFD is provided to help put the Strategic Plan into context. It presents a framework to illustrate the size and the scope of services provided.
Quick Facts
Population Protected: 15,000 (resident) and 45,000 (daytime)
Square Miles Served: 4.16
Burbank Paradise Fire Department Budget FY 2018-19: $318,289.00
Cost per Capita by Population Protected: $100 (resident tax yearly cost)
Engine and Staff ( $305= hourly cost )
ISO Rating: 2
Number of Fire Stations: 1
Minimum Staffing Level per Shift and Ranks: Capt/DO, Eng, FF- 7 personnel
Number of Personnel: 36 (36 sworn and 4 non-sworn)
Support Your Fire District NEW BPFD TAX MEASURE!
This will assist in providing accurate Fire converge for the District, new future apparatus replacement, assist with maintenance and repairs on aging fire Engine’s and equipment which are at 20 years old. This will also assist with the districts call volume continuing to increase. Call volume in 2015 at last tax measure 847-/+ total calls. Total call Volume ending in 2020 1,615-/+ total calls. The last tax measure that passed was in 2015 which brought in an additional 70,000 in tax revenue, With the station remodel in 2016 a station loan was needed, So the additional funds went to the payment which are two payments every year at 32,500 for a total of 65,000. This loan ends in 2030. The rest of the funds went to Maintenance and Repair and Fuel cost which have now almost doubled along Maintenance and repair. That being said there are no additional funds to support the now additional 768 calls. The Volunteers that support your District now more than every need your support and a yes vote !
Burbank Fire Department Service Calls 6-Year History
FY2014-2015
Fire -47
Medical-623
Service – 101
Other- 112
Total – 883
FY2015-2016
Fire- 32
Medical- 895
Service – 147
Other-120
Total 1,094
FY2016-2017
Fire-52
Medical-976
Service – 117
Other- 122
Total 1,267
FY2017-2018
Fire -47
Medical-1,050
Service – 88
Other-157
Total- 1,342
FY2018-2019
Fire – 67
Medical- 1,033
Service – 185
Other- 87
Total – 1,472
FY2019-2020
Fire -52
Medical 1,072
Service – 133
Other-260
Mutal- Aid -100
Total 1,617
History of Burbank-Paradise Fire District
1942
Established
In a special election a proposal to form a new rural fire protection area known as the Burbank-Paradise District passed.
1948
Moved to our current location
Relocated the station from Vernon Ave to Beverly Drive.
1948
Purchased our Second Truck
1948 G.M.C. 350 gallon per minute pumper with a 400 gallon water tank.
1954
Purchased our Third Truck
GMC 750 gallon per minute pumper with a 750 gallon water tank
1966
Replaced our first engine
We replaced our old Dodge (Old Betsy) with a 1966 G.M.C. 750 gallon per minute pumper.
1976
Fire Chief – Michael Wilkinson
Replaced the used 1954 pumper
We replaced the 1954 pumper with a 1976 International 1000 gallon pumper
1988
Fire Chief – Scott Carvalho
Purchased a used 1981 pumper
We purchased a used 1981 1000 gallon pumper and a “mini-pumper”
1998
Fire Chief – Ramsdale
Rebuild used 1981 pumper
2000
*Fire Chief – Herb Collier
Used 2001 Peirce Saber Pumper
Used 1986 Seagrave Pumper
2005
*Fire Chief – Les Alderson
Used 1988 Seagrave Pumper
Used 1996 Ford F350
2008
Interim Fire Chief – Mike Hillar
2011
Used 1993 Ford Type 3 Brush Wildland 500gal
2015
Used 1995 International Type 3 Brush Wildland 600gal
Station Remodel Bays only
2017
*Fire Chief – Peter Golling
2018
New 2018 F-150 XLT Pickup Captain/Chief On-Call Vehicle
New 2013 F-550 Type 6 Wildland Urban Interface
2019
New 2019 Aaron Fox Type 3 Brush – Model 34
2020
-No Changes Other than COVID-19
-PLEASE BE SAFE
2021
2021 purchase of our new Type 1 engine
Exhaust Extractor
Station Bay Floors Repaired