Fire Department

Monterey’s Fire Department is trained to respond to fire emergencies, medical incidents, and hazardous conditions resulting from natural events or human activity. Department personnel develop and maintain critical skills through training, physical readiness, and the use of modern firefighting and emergency response equipment. The Department participates in ongoing training to ensure proficiency in current firefighting techniques and emergency medical services. Firefighters operate as a coordinated team during emergency responses, emphasizing communication, safety, and effective service delivery to the community. Service in the Monterey Fire Department reflects a strong commitment to public safety and community well-being. The work requires professionalism, preparedness, and a dedication to protecting residents, visitors, and property during times of need.

The Fire Chief performs all smoke detector inspections, furnace, oil burner/tank inspections and oil tank removal permits.

Fire Inspections & Re-inspections $60

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Calendar Year 2025 Breakdown in Calls. 

Monterey only calls:    165
Mutual aid calls:            27   (this is 911 dispatch mutual aid calls)
Total calls:                   192

Break down by Call type (Monterey only)
 
55% EMS
45% Fire Related

Brief narrative for calendar year 2025:
 
Monterey alone saw two oven fires, one chimney fire, one vehicle fire that ignited a brush fire, one illegal brush fire burn, two animal rescues, one ice rescue of two people who fell through the ice on an ATV, a water rescue, and eleven (11) motor vehicle accidents. All told, with Mutual Aid and Monterey calls combined, the department dealt with 20 fires, structure and wild land, and 24 motor vehicle accidents, in addition to alarms and emergency medical calls.

Current Staffing Level

An average of 2.41 Fire Fighters attend calls.

Firefighter Types:

Call - a trained member of the Fire Department who responds to emergencies—such as fires, medical incidents, and other public safety calls—when dispatched, rather than working a continuous station-based shift. They are notified by pager, radio, or phone and respond from their home, workplace, or other location, playing a critical role in maintaining adequate staffing and timely emergency response.

Duty Shift - a trained member of the Fire Department who indicate their availability to the Fire Chief or Deputy Fire Chief after reviewing the posted schedule to work a defined shift—typically a 12-hour overnight period—stationed at the firehouse and immediately available to respond to emergency calls. During the shift, the firefighter remains on duty in the station, responds directly to incidents as dispatched, and helps ensure consistent overnight coverage, readiness, and rapid response for the community.

Per Diem - a trained member of the Fire Department who is scheduled to work on an as-needed basis, typically in 12-hour shifts covering weekends or other periods of identified need. These firefighters are assigned in advance and provide on-duty station coverage, responding directly to emergency calls during their scheduled shifts.