Fire Suppression

Fighting a fire or "fire suppression," with its extreme heat and deadly smoke, is one of the most dangerous aspects of a firefighter's job.

The City of San Diego has a varied and unique topography:

• Open space
• Canyons
• Dense housing tracts
• Highrises
• Large waterfront

Firefighters will tell you that fire has a life and personality of its own. Firefighters attack a house fire differently than a highrise fire and a canyon fire differently than a grass fire. Even the equipment and apparatus used for each type of fire is different. San Diego Firefighters are trained to battle every conceivable type of fire and are among the best trained firefighters in the country.

• San Diego City Fire Suppression Organization
• San Diego City Fire Suppression Roles & Responsibilities
• San Diego City Fire Suppression Terms

Since 1889, City fire crews have responded to calls for help. Fire Suppression was the primary task of the Fire Department until the incorporation of other duties such as emergency medical care, fire inspections, hazardous material mitigation, explosive ordnance removal and heavy rescue.