El Cajon Fire Department

Community Notification Service

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The Heartland Fire & Rescue Department is now using Nixle Community Notification Service. Nixle is a free web-based service provided by Nixle, LLC.

Register by going to the Nixle web site and clicking the “Residents Sign Up Now” button. Once registered, you will receive messages by e-mail, by text message to your cellphone or computer. Messages are categorized as Alerts, Advisories, and Community Information. Heartland Fire will send Nixle messages of problem areas due to fires, crashes and community events.

There is no charge to use this service, and your information is not given or sold to any other entities. Fire Chief Mike Scott says Nixle will add another opportunity to reach the public on important issues and events.

Heartland Fire & Rescue

On January 1, 2010, the Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove entered into a joint exercise of powers agreement for management and delivery of fire protection and emergency medical services.

Under this agreement, the shared management team, known as “Heartland Fire & Rescue” provides management for the three cities. The management team includes a fire chief, assistant chief, three deputy fire chiefs, three division chiefs, three battalion chiefs and four support staff.

This unique cooperative fire services agreement provides cost containment opportunities, maintains local control, ensures a high level of fire and emergency medical services delivery and maximizes resource utilization.

This cooperative service manages eight fire stations, nine engine companies, two truck companies, three paramedic transport units and one battalion chief. The joint powers agreement serves a population of 180,000 and responds to approximately 18,000 calls for service each year.

Press Releases

Your Deputy Fire Chiefs For Heartland Fire & Rescue

For the City of El Cajon, Rick Sitta; for the City of Lemon Grove, Tim Smith; and for the City of La Mesa, Greg McAlpine.

Cool Zone & Heat Safety Tips!

It’s summer and hot! Stay cool! Stay hydrated & safe. To help you stay cool and keep your energy costs down, the County is offering “Cool Zones” – click on the following link:

Single Story Home Destroyed By Early Morning Fire

Shortly after 7:00 a.m. Monday morning, Heartland Fire Dispatch received numerous calls of a structure fire in the 1000 block of Mollison Avenue in El Cajon. The fire was put out in less than 10 minutes. Quick action by responders kept the fire from spreading to nearby apartments.

Be Prepared – Become A Member of CERT!

We’ve had a lot of earthquake activity lately – are you prepared for a disaster? Seriously consider enrolling in a “free” CERT academy. You’ll learn how to better protect yourself and your family, and help your neighbors.

Fire Safe Your Home – Inside & Out

The vegetation surrounding a building or structure is fuel for a fire. Even the building or structure itself is considered fuel. Research and experience have shown that fuel reduction around a building or structure increases the probability of it surviving a wildfire.

Earthquakes: What You Can Do To Prepare & What To Do During An Earthquake

With all the earthquake activity we’ve been having “NOW” is the time to prepare yourself and your family. The following information can help…

Small Planes Crashes In El Cajon

Just after 7:00 p.m. Friday night a single engine Cessna made a crash landing on Johnson Avenue, just north of Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. The two men onboard were able to crawl from the wreckage just before the plane burst into flames. Fire crews from Heartland Fire & Rescue, in the City of El Cajon, quickly arrived on scene and had the fire out in less than five minutes.

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