Felton Fire Protection District is a combination fire district composed at full staff of 30 volunteer firefighters, one part time administrator, 2 full time firefighter/EMTs, 2 full time Captains, and a full time Fire Chief. The fire district is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains and serves a population of 6,000 permanent residents and up to 15,000 visitors during summer months. Volunteer firefighters first established fire response in Felton in 1935, and a formal district was established in 1935 as a Special District of the State of California. In partnership with Civil Defense, the first fire apparatus and equipment were purchased to serve the needs of the district, and in 1954, a permanent station was built at Felton Fire’s current address of 131 Kirby Street in downtown Felton.
Felton serves a variety of businesses, residences, and tourist attractions, including three schools, multiple conference centers, and Henry Cowell Redwood’s State Park. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton operates a steam locomotive rides in the redwoods and a train running between Felton and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
The fire district is governed by an elected 5 member board of directors. Each director serves a four-year term of office. The term of office is staggered so that every two years some director seats term out.
The fire district is an all risk fire protection agency, responding to 750-900 calls for service each year, including fires, floods, rescues, medical emergencies, and public assistance. Felton Fire also participates or leads a variety of public education programs, including fire safety at local schools districts and a CERT program.
Felton volunteers were a major contributor to formalizing large animal rescue response in the United States and California. By responding to local emergencies involving large animals, mostly horses, a training class was developed and Felton personnel have now taught the class throughout the western United States. Incidents involzving cattle, horses, or other large animals require specialty training and equipment, which Felton Fire maintains, and often occur in remote or difficult to access areas.
In late 2023 Felton Fire launched its Swift Water Rescue program, with 6 trained technicians on the department, many of whom are full time employees of the district. This program allows Felton Fire to reduce the response time to areas prone to flooding in the district, or rescues that may occur in the miles of rivers and streams located within our district and response area. Our technicians are available as a resource to our partner agencies in the county.
Below is a list of Fire Chiefs since it’s founding in 1948.
