County Fire Protection
Total Expenses
$15,503,643
-7%
1Total Revenues
$13,329,320
7%
2General Fund Contribution
$0
0%
3
District Sales Tax Contribution
$0
0%
4
Other Fund Contributions
2,174,323
-48%
5
Funded Staffing
0.00
0.00
6Website
Overview
Mission Statement
The Santa Cruz County Fire Department (County Fire) protects the life, property, and natural resources of its citizens and visitors through effective emergency response, preparedness, education, and prevention.Department Overview
County Fire is responsible for structural fire protection, first responder emergency medical services, technical rescue, public fire safety education, and fire marshal services including inspection services for County unincorporated areas that are not included in an autonomous fire district. The County contracts with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to provide these services. County Fire is funded by property taxes and assessments in County Service Area (CSA) 48, a Proposition 172 allocation for the Fire Chiefs Association, and charges for services related to the Santa Cruz County Hazardous Materials Response Team. Volunteer firefighters comprise most of County Fire staffing, with supplemental staffing from CAL FIRE.County Fire provides fire protection to Pajaro Dunes as a discretionary function through a contract with CAL FIRE. The fire station at Pajaro Dunes is financed by CSA 4 assessments. Though CSA 4 does not directly employ firefighters, Workers’ Compensation and volunteer firefighter stipends for training and shift assignments are funded through the budget.
Mutual aid and automatic aid agreements entered between fire agencies throughout the County and State allow firefighters to respond to emergencies across political boundaries.
Budget Summary
Department Budget Overview
Overall Budget Summary
County fire protection services are provided through a contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). The Proposed Budget includes no full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. Appropriations total $15,503,643, funded by revenues of $13,329,320, including property tax revenue and related fees. The remaining $2,174,323 reflects a planned use of Other Fund Contributions from County Service Area (CSA) 4 and CSA 48 to support capital improvements and maintain service levels.The Proposed Budget reflects a net decrease of $1,161,396 from the prior year Adopted Budget, driven by offsetting changes across CSA 48 and CSA 4. Within CSA 48 expenses decrease by $1,943,902 million due to funding realignment and adjustments to the CAL FIRE service contract. CSA 4, by contrast, reflects an expense increase of $799,869, attributable to a correction of a prior understatement stemming from changes in State contract management.
The Proposed Budget includes a revenue increase of $863,620 for County Fire, including a CSA 48 increase of $708,374 and a CSA 4 increase of $169,217. Revenue increases are largely driven by indexed property tax increases of $349,072 across both CSA 48 and CSA 4.
Emerging Issues
Emerging Issues
County Fire Facilities Requiring Capital Improvements: County Fire faces ongoing facility and infrastructure challenges that affect its ability to maintain safe and effective operations. Delays in addressing these needs may impact service readiness, response capabilities, and compliance with safety standards. County Fire is partnering with the General Services Department in Fiscal Year 2026-27 to engage in several capital facilities improvements at Davenport and McDermott Fire Stations.
Artificial Intelligence in Fire Prevention and Response: Emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies present opportunities to strengthen fire prevention and emergency response in Santa Cruz County. Predictive modeling tools can integrate historical fire incident data, fuel load mapping, wind patterns, and land use information to identify high-risk areas before incidents occur—enabling more targeted vegetation management and resource pre-positioning. CAL FIRE and other regional agencies are actively exploring these technologies. As these tools mature, County Fire and CAL FIRE will evaluate opportunities to leverage data-driven approaches that improve service delivery and public safety outcomes in the unincorporated areas served by CSA 48 and CSA 4.
Artificial Intelligence in Fire Prevention and Response: Emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies present opportunities to strengthen fire prevention and emergency response in Santa Cruz County. Predictive modeling tools can integrate historical fire incident data, fuel load mapping, wind patterns, and land use information to identify high-risk areas before incidents occur—enabling more targeted vegetation management and resource pre-positioning. CAL FIRE and other regional agencies are actively exploring these technologies. As these tools mature, County Fire and CAL FIRE will evaluate opportunities to leverage data-driven approaches that improve service delivery and public safety outcomes in the unincorporated areas served by CSA 48 and CSA 4.
Department Operations and Performance
Divisions
Services
County Fire Department
Expenses
$8,854,158
Fire Pass-Throughs
Expenses
$3,257,533
County Service Area 4 - Pajaro Dunes
Expenses
$3,391,952
Operational Plan Objectives and Accomplishments
This division supports various department objectives
Completed/Accomplishment
Proposed/In-Progress/Amended
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Services
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Objective
Major Budget Changes
Divison: Division Name
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| Major Changes | Net FTE Changes |
2026-27 Ongoing Budget Increase / (Decrease) |
2026-27 One-time Budget Increase / (Decrease) |
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Budget Details
The charts below show department expenditures and revenues by division and service. Click on the pie charts to drill down for more detail. Complete detail can be found on the County's Transparency Portal.
Expenses by Service
Expenses and Revenues over time
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