San Manuel Fire Department receives Class 1 rating

After a risk and capabilities assessment, the ISO Community Hazzard Mitigation issued a Class 1 rating to San Manuel Fire Department (SMFD) for training, equipment, fire prevention activities, and overall deployment and staffing capabilities for emergency communications and responses.

SMFD is the first California Tribal Fire Department to be recognized with this classification.

The risk assessment rates the public fire protection efforts including the preventative work of the fire marshal, overall fire response capabilities, hazard mitigation, safety training, staffing & the water supply system in the jurisdiction.

“Ensuring the safety of our tribal citizens and property on the San Manuel Indian Reservation as well as the greater community is part of a public safety culture within the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Since its establishment in 2003, San Manuel Fire Department has strived to provide the best fire services in and around our ancestral territory of southern California, protecting communities that are often under threat by wildfire. Thank you to our fire department for safeguarding our community,” said San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman Ken Ramirez.

To date, only 37 Fire Departments in the State of California have achieved an ISO Mitigation Class 1 rating.