About the Department
The White Ridge Volunteer Fire Protection Society was founded in 1830 after a gold boom brought a massive population influx to the area. The department was officially incorporated ten years later in 1840, establishing the White Ridge Fire Department, the first paid fire department. The paid department, along with on call volunteer members, was highly influential during the Great Conflagration of 1860, which destroyed much of the area from the wharf to the current Historic District.
In the 1920s, the Department received its first Rescue Company. In the 1970s, the Department began a transition from the White Ridge Fire Department to the Fire and Rescue Department. The first department owned ambulances were placed into service in the early 1980s, creating the first city-run EMS system.
In 2010, the City of White Ridge began a transition from fire-based EMS to private EMS, with the contracting of MedLink EMS, which continues to this day. The contract was renewed in 2015 after excellent performance and exceeding all set 5-year objectives.
In 2015, the Department began another transition in name, beginning the change to the White Ridge Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services (Department of Fire-Rescue and EMS). The modernized department now operates as an All-Hazards department, able to respond to any emergency incident, including fires, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, EMS calls, and more.
On January 1st, 2017, the Department put into place the first stage of the EMS Initiative 2020 ("EMS2020"), a 5-year plan that started in 2015 to revitalize the department's EMS Operations. On the 1st of the year, all Engine Companies started responding with ALS crewing. All Engines received ALS equipment, were certified as ALS non-transport units, and began responding with one Firefighter-Paramedic on the crew. This change alone reduced response times by 1 minute and 20 seconds.
As a continued part of EMS2020, AEDs and nasal Naloxone (Narcan) were distributed to all units in the Police Department. On May 1st, 2017, the EMS Division was officially reactivated. Under the EMS2020 plan, seven new department owned and operated ALS ambulances will be placed into service by 2020.
In 2017, the Department's Wildland Operations Division began a plan to standardize apparatus under NFPA 1906 Standards for Wildland Apparatus, and conform to national standards for apparatus, staffing, local response, and national deployment.
In the 1920s, the Department received its first Rescue Company. In the 1970s, the Department began a transition from the White Ridge Fire Department to the Fire and Rescue Department. The first department owned ambulances were placed into service in the early 1980s, creating the first city-run EMS system.
In 2010, the City of White Ridge began a transition from fire-based EMS to private EMS, with the contracting of MedLink EMS, which continues to this day. The contract was renewed in 2015 after excellent performance and exceeding all set 5-year objectives.
In 2015, the Department began another transition in name, beginning the change to the White Ridge Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services (Department of Fire-Rescue and EMS). The modernized department now operates as an All-Hazards department, able to respond to any emergency incident, including fires, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, EMS calls, and more.
On January 1st, 2017, the Department put into place the first stage of the EMS Initiative 2020 ("EMS2020"), a 5-year plan that started in 2015 to revitalize the department's EMS Operations. On the 1st of the year, all Engine Companies started responding with ALS crewing. All Engines received ALS equipment, were certified as ALS non-transport units, and began responding with one Firefighter-Paramedic on the crew. This change alone reduced response times by 1 minute and 20 seconds.
As a continued part of EMS2020, AEDs and nasal Naloxone (Narcan) were distributed to all units in the Police Department. On May 1st, 2017, the EMS Division was officially reactivated. Under the EMS2020 plan, seven new department owned and operated ALS ambulances will be placed into service by 2020.
In 2017, the Department's Wildland Operations Division began a plan to standardize apparatus under NFPA 1906 Standards for Wildland Apparatus, and conform to national standards for apparatus, staffing, local response, and national deployment.
Click the links below to explore more about the department and its operations.
EMS Division
Operating Procedures
Response Guidelines
Mutual Aid
EMS Division
Operating Procedures
Response Guidelines
Mutual Aid