Emergency Operations is the largest bureau within the City of Carlsbad Fire Department and is responsible for fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical service (EMS) delivery, lifeguard service/marine safety and disaster mitigation.

The Emergency Operations Bureau is led by the assistant fire chief, with three shift battalion chiefs leading A, B and C platoons, one training battalion chief who supervises training and safety and an EMS division chief who oversees training and EMS.

Approximately 32 personnel make up each shift who are housed within seven fire stations located throughout the city. Ranks consist of captains, engineers, firefighter paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMT) working an alternating 24-hour shift schedule.

More information on the City of Carlsbad Lifeguard Service including staffing and hours of operation can be found here. 

Emergency Operations personnel are a highly trained, professional workforce that respond annually to more than 14,000 calls for service.

The City of Carlsbad maintains a fleet of emergency vehicles that respond to emergency incidents. In addition to the front-line apparatus, the city has reserve apparatus which can immediately be placed in service when additional staffing is needed or when front-line apparatus experience mechanical issues:

• Six fire engines and two reserve
• One aerial ladder truck and one reserve
• Five rescue ambulances, each staffed with one firefighter/paramedic and one EMT
• Two brush engines and one OES brush engine
• One urban search and rescue unit and one technical rescue trailer
• Five chief command vehicles and one reserve
• Two lifeguard pick-up trucks
• Two UTVs for off-road use
• Two rescue personal watercraft