Calexico fire department seeks more staff and equipment

An independent study presented to the Calexico City Council has highlighted critical resource shortages within the local fire department. The report, the first since 2018, emphasizes a significant need for additional personnel and equipment, particularly regarding ambulance services.

Currently, the department operates with only 25 members, though 59 are required to meet the needs of the growing city. Firefighters also serve as paramedics, managing a high volume of medical emergencies, which account for 80 percent of total emergency calls. Because Calexico lacks local hospitals, personnel are often away from their stations for up to two hours while performing patient transports.

Fire Chief Juan Contreras stated that the department needs to operate at least 10 people per shift to maintain necessary operational levels. To address these funding gaps for both fire and police services, ‘Measure 0’ will appear on the November 3 ballot. This measure proposes a new tax to generate the resources required for additional staff and machinery.