OCFA Division 1

Community Notice: Live Wildland Fire Training

The OCFA will conduct live wildland fire training at the Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos during the day from June 8 to June 15.

The training will involve the controlled burning of vegetation in designated areas on the base. Smoke may be visible from surrounding communities during training operations.

These planned exercises provide firefighters with valuable real-world experience in a safe, controlled environment. We appreciate our community’s continued support, partnership, and shared commitment to preparedness.

Several OCFA employees from Division One were nominated for the Best and Bravest awards this year!

Congratulations to Chloe Flores, Preston Root, Elizabeth Denney, Bruce and Grant Hale for exceptional service and dedication to the communities you serve within your roles!

“In Service of Others!”

We had a great time at Lampson Elementary School’s Career Fair! Students had the opportunity to learn about the fire service and ask questions about what it takes to serve and protect our community. Thank you to the school staff and students for the warm welcome. We’re proud to support our community both in and out of emergency situations! 🚒

While much of our attention remained focused on supporting the significant operations surrounding the GKN Aerospace Hazmat Incident, the rest of the world doesn’t stop, and neither do 911 calls.

Yesterday, the crew of Engine 65 quickly responded to and extinguished a vehicle fire on the freeway, helping keep motorists safe.

Division 1 averages more than 30,000 emergency calls each year, and incidents like this serve as a reminder that even during large-scale emergencies, our commitment to the community never wavers. Throughout the duration of the Hazmat Incident, all stations remained staffed and ready, continuing to answer calls for service across our communities.

Whether it’s a major incident requiring significant resources or a single vehicle fire on the freeway, our firefighters are prepared to respond whenever and wherever they’re needed.

Thank you to Engine 65 and all Division 1 personnel who continue to answer the call, no matter the mission.

You never truly know what an organization is made of until it gets tested, and this one showed exactly who we are.

As your Division 1 chief, I am honored to be one of the faces of an incredible Incident Management Team, but the credit belongs to every single person who leaned in, sacrificed time away from family, adapted to every challenge, and flat out delivered when it mattered most.

Today, as we transition out of Unified Incident Command on the Western Incident, there are not enough words to express how proud we are of the professionalism, commitment, and resilience shown across the entire organization. This team performed at the highest level from start to finish.

We are equally grateful for the patience, resilience, and support of the evacuated residents and communities impacted throughout this incident. Your trust, cooperation, and strength helped carry this mission forward.

At the end of the day, this is what matters most, no one injured, families are returning home safely, communities are reunited, and together we came through this stronger than before.

OCFA Division 1 - April 2026 Response Snapshot

🔥Fires: 40
🚑Medical Aids: 1,870
🚗Traffic Collisions: 41
🛠️Service Calls: 672
✅Total Calls: 2,623

🔥 Grilling Safety Reminder 🔥

A BBQ placed too close to anything that can burn is a serious fire hazard. Stay safe while you enjoy the grill with these important tips:

🍔 General Grilling Safety:
• Always use propane and charcoal grills outdoors only
• Keep grills a safe distance from your home, deck railings, furniture, and trees
• Maintain a 3-foot safety zone for kids and pets
• Clean grease and fat buildup regularly
• Never leave a hot grill, lighter, or matches unattended

🔥 Charcoal Grill Tips:
• Only use charcoal starter fluid — never add flammable liquids to an active fire
• Let coals cool completely (about 48 hours) before disposing in a metal container

⛽ Propane Grill Tips:
• Check gas hoses for leaks before use
• If a leak is detected, have it serviced before grilling again
• If the flame goes out, turn everything off and wait 5 minutes before relighting

📊 Did you know?
• 10,200 grilling fires happen every year
• 89% involve gas grills
• 57% occur between May and August
• Grilling fires cause 160 injuries per year and $123 million in property damage

Stay alert. Stay prepared. Enjoy your BBQ safely. 🔥
Find these tips and more at OCFA.org.

Is 2,500 strong. 👏

OCFA Division 1 just hit 2,500 followers, and we couldn’t be more grateful. This page isn’t just about us, it’s about our community. Thank you for following along, sharing our public safety messages, and staying informed on the incidents we respond to every day.

Whether it’s learning how to keep your family safe, seeing behind the scenes of emergency response, or supporting your local firefighters and dispatchers, you’re part of the mission.

We appreciate the support, the engagement, and the trust. We’ll keep showing up, keeping you informed, and working to keep our communities safe. #2500

We had a fun time this morning with ! Took our firefighter less than a minute and a half to put on their full PPE! Does anyone know what PPE stands for?!?

Division 1 crews assisted our partners at Garden Grove Police Department with safely removing an arrested subject from a rooftop using one of our truck companies equipped with a basket.

Having a diverse fleet allows our crews to adapt quickly and safely to just about any situation; fire, rescue, or the unexpected. This is a great example of how versatility and teamwork come together in the field.

We’re always proud to support our law enforcement partners in Garden Grove. You truly never know what the day will bring, but you can count on your first responders to be ready.

This week we proudly celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, honoring the voices behind the scenes who are truly the first to serve.

Every day, our OCFA dispatchers are the calm in the chaos for more than 2 million Orange County residents. Before sirens are heard or engines arrive, it’s their steady guidance, sharp decision-making, and unmatched expertise that sets everything in motion.

In 2025 alone:
• 183,865 emergency incidents handled
• 223,859 unit responses dispatched
• 345,000+ calls received
• 99.92% of calls answered within 15 seconds!!
• Average dispatch time: just 53 seconds, well below the national benchmark

These numbers tell a story of precision, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to service. But beyond the stats, it’s about people helping people, often on someone’s worst day.

To our Emergency Command Center personnel: thank you for your dedication, your composure, and the critical role you play in every response, we couldn’t do it without you. 📞🚒💛