Dear Cambria Residents,

We apologize for not releasing our October newsletter. It’s been a busy month, and we appreciate your understanding. 

The Cambria Fire Department remained active throughout October, responding to a total of 100 incidents, marking a steady increase from 90 incidents in October 2024. This brings the year-to-date total to 926 calls, up 12 percent from the same period last year.

Training and Readiness
Continuous training remains a key part of the department’s mission readiness. This month’s focus included:

• High Angle Rope Rescue – enhancing rescue capabilities in Cambria’s rugged terrain.
• Post-Fire Decontamination Protocol Review – ensuring firefighter health and contamination control.
• Ocean Rescue Drills – reinforcing preparedness for coastal and water-related emergencies.

Community Outreach
October was an especially community-focused month, with several events and engagement activities:

• Neighborhood Liaison and Alert Sign-Up Meetings continued, helping residents stay informed and connected during emergencies.
• Trunk or Treat brought families together for a fun and safe Halloween celebration at the fire station.
• The Annual Burn Relay saw firefighters join the countywide event supporting burn survivors, showcasing Cambria Fire’s commitment to service beyond emergency response.

Fire Prevention and Safety
The department continued its proactive prevention efforts with:

• Six business inspections to ensure compliance with fire and life safety codes.
• Two defensible space and residential property inspections, part of the ongoing wildfire mitigation program.
• Five smoke detector installations and replacements, improving safety in local homes.

Community Snapshot
Of the month’s 100 calls, 64 involved Cambria residents and 20 involved visitors or non-residents, reflecting the department’s dual mission to protect both the local community and those visiting the area.

The Cambria Community Services District is accepting applications for three SAFER Firefighter Paramedic or SAFER Firefighter EMT-1 positions. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

About the Position

Under the supervision of a Firefighter, the SAFER Firefighter performs skilled work in fire suppression, emergency medical services, rescue, and fire prevention. The role keeps apparatus, equipment, and facilities in a constant state of readiness and participates in ongoing training and physical fitness. In a coastal WUI community, firefighters also respond to ocean and surf emergencies. Firefighters support community risk reduction and public education. The position typically serves as part of a three or four-person engine company when staffing permits.

To review the position description, please click here.

About the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Award

Under the direction of the General Manager, Fire Department staff submitted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 SAFER Grant application, which was approved on September 20, 2025, awarding up to $569,973.90 to fund three firefighter positions over a three-year period, with the program scheduled to begin within six months of grant acceptance. On October 9, 2025, the CCSD Board of Directors accepted the funding. The SAFER Grant Program provides direct funding to fire departments to increase the number of firefighters, meet industry minimum standards, and achieve 24-hour staffing to protect communities from fire and related hazards better, while fulfilling the traditional mission of fire departments.

This grant provides funding for three firefighter positions over a three-year period, enabling the Department to add one firefighter to its daily staffing and operate a four-person engine company each day. This will improve daily staffing levels, reduce reliance on overtime, and enhance response times. Increased staffing will also ensure the Department can immediately enter Immediate Danger to Life and Health atmospheres in compliance with the OSHA “2-in/2-out” requirement, perform rescue operations with greater efficiency, and provide sufficient personnel to launch and operate our ocean rescue boats safely.

The addition of a fourth on-duty firefighter will further enhance firefighter safety, allow for more effective incident command and accountability at emergencies, increase the ability to conduct simultaneous fireground tasks such as fire attack and search/rescue, provide better coverage during medical calls, and strengthen overall operational readiness for both structure and wildland fires representing an essential step toward enhancing public safety and emergency response capabilities within the CCSD service area. The staffing model includes a full-time Captain, a full-time Engineer, a full-time Firefighter, and a full-time SAFER-funded Firefighter.

Unless additional funding becomes available at the conclusion of the three years, the SAFER-funded firefighter positions will end, and the engine will revert to three-person staffing. 

Know Your Evacuation Zone

In light of the recent fires across California, the Cambria Fire Department urges all residents to remain vigilant and take steps to prepare for the ongoing threat of wildfire. These events are a stark reminder of how quickly fire can escalate and the importance of year-round fire safety and wildfire preparedness.

What Are Evacuation Zones?

San Luis Obispo County public safety agencies have worked together to divide the county into pre-established evacuation zones. These evacuation zones will assist first responders in more quickly determining evacuation areas during an emergency. These new zones will also allow the public to easily identify if they are in an area under an Evacuation Warning or Evacuation Order. These zones are intended for emergencies that require large-scale evacuations.

Evacuation Zones vs. Protective Action Zones

These new evacuation zones are different than the Protective Action Zones (PAZ) established for emergencies at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant.  The 12 Protective Action Zones are much larger in size and are specifically designed for an emergency at Diablo Canyon when evacuation or shelter in place may be directed. The PAZs are still in place and would be used during a nuclear power plant emergency.  These new evacuation zones would be used during other emergencies

Know Your Evacuation Zones

To save time during an emergency, it is important for residents to know your evacuation zone in advance. Enter your address into the map tool below. The tool will tell you your zone name. It is important to write down the zone name and post it in a location easily accessible in an emergency.

Each zone has a description of the zone with the name, borders, current status, and additional information.  Additional information may also be provided. 

If an Evacuation Order or Warning is ordered, emergency officials will utilize alert and notification methods such as Wireless Emergency Alerts and Reverse 911 to notify residents which zones are affected. Knowing your evacuation zone will allow you to respond more quickly. 

How to Find Your Zone

1. Click here to find your zone. Use the search bar on the upper left hand side to type in your address. Click enter, or select the appropriate address from the drop-down list that will appear.
2. Your results will show your Protective Action Zone (PAZ) if you live in the Emergency Planning Zone for Diablo Canyon Power Plant (this will be a PAZ 1 - 12 number).
3. Your results will also show your Evacuation Zone for non-Diablo Canyon emergencies (wildfires, etc.)
4. The  map will also show you a visual of your zone for reference.  To zoom in, use the +/- sign on the top right.
5. Other questions? See the Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here.

The Cambria Community Services District website features a Monthly Stats page with detailed incident reports for each month. You can view the reports by clicking here or by reviewing them below.

We encourage community members to stay involved and informed by:

• Attending a Fire Protection Committee meeting
• Attending a Board of Directors meeting to hear the Fire Chief’s report and department statistics
• Attending a Cambria Fire Safe Focus Group meeting to engage in local wildfire prevention efforts
• Follow the Cambria Fire Department on social media for real-time updates
  • Instagram: www.instagram.com/cambriafiredepartment
  • Facebook: www.facebook.com/Cambriafire
• Sign up to receive Cambria Fire Department news and updates, including information about the 2026 Fire Hazard Fuel Reduction Program (FHFRP). Simply scroll to the bottom of the Cambria Community Services District website, click "Join Our Mailing List," and subscribe. It’s the best way to receive important fire department news, public safety updates, and community alerts directly to your inbox.
• Becoming a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Member by signing up here.
• Becoming a Neighborhood Liaison. Help keep Cambria informed and prepared by signing up as a Neighborhood Liaison. Liaisons play a vital role in sharing important updates and supporting community emergency preparedness. To get started, visit the Cambria Community Services District website, click on “How You Can Participate,” and complete the registration form. Your information will help strengthen local emergency communications and outreach efforts.

The Cambria Fire Department remains committed to:

• Expanding neighborhood liaison participation.
• Continuing multi-agency training to strengthen wildfire and disaster readiness.
• Supporting countywide hazard-mitigation and ecological projects

Stay informed, stay safe,

Michael Burkey
Fire Chief
Cambria Fire Department
mburkey@cambriacsd.org
(805) 927-6240