Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County

Central Fire District of Santa Cruz County Proudly Serving the Communities of Aptos, Capitola, Live Oak, La Selva Beach, Rio Del Mar and Soquel.

View our Social Media Policy: https://linktr.ee/CentralFire Central Fire District's Social Media Policy https://www.centralfiresc.org/DocumentCenter/View/1619/District-Social-Media-Use-SOP

After 16 days deployed to the Timber Fire in Monterey County, five Central Fire District firefighters have returned home...
08/29/2026

After 16 days deployed to the Timber Fire in Monterey County, five Central Fire District firefighters have returned home.

Our crew supported firefighting efforts throughout the incident, including structure protection and fireline operations in the Big Sur area.

As this crew returns home, fresh boots are already on the ground, with multiple units now deployed to support the Plaskett Fire.

A big thank you to California State Parks and the good Samaritans who reported an entangled seagull high in the trees ne...
08/06/2026

A big thank you to California State Parks and the good Samaritans who reported an entangled seagull high in the trees near 14th Avenue.

Thankfully, our crew was able to safely assist and bring the bird down, which is now in the care of Native Animal Rescue, where it will receive the treatment and support it needs.

The great teamwork between our community, California State Parks, and our crew, helped give this bird a second chance.

⚠️ Beach Hazards Statement through Saturday⚠️ The ocean can be deceptive. Even when the water appears calm, long-period ...
07/29/2026

⚠️ Beach Hazards Statement through Saturday⚠️

The ocean can be deceptive. Even when the water appears calm, long-period swells can suddenly produce powerful waves that rush much farther up the beach than expected.

• Never turn your back on the ocean.
• Stay off jetties, piers, rocks, and other waterside structures.
• Strong rip currents and hazardous surf are possible along Santa Cruz County beaches.

A calm ocean doesn’t always mean a safe ocean. Stay alert and give the shoreline plenty of space.

———————————————————

⚠️Aviso de Condiciones Peligrosas en las Playas vigente hasta el sábado⚠️
El océano puede ser engañoso. Aunque el agua parezca tranquila, el oleaje de período largo puede generar repentinamente olas fuertes que llegan mucho más arriba en la playa de lo que se espera.
• Nunca le dé la espalda al océano.
• Manténgase alejado de escolleras, muelles, rocas y otras estructuras junto al agua.
• Es posible que haya fuertes corrientes de resaca y oleaje peligroso en las playas del condado de Santa Cruz.
Un océano tranquilo no siempre significa un océano seguro. Manténgase alerta y conserve una distancia segura de la orilla.

Central Firefighter Kyle Marty and California State Parks Lifeguards worked together this month to offer Rescue Watercra...
07/23/2026

Central Firefighter Kyle Marty and California State Parks Lifeguards worked together this month to offer Rescue Watercraft Deckhand Training to the City of Capitola Lifeguard staff. Inter-agency training is vital to ensuring safety and efficiency during our many ocean rescue emergencies.

Repost ・・・Thank you to Chief Nigel Miller for joining us during Community Champions Week and experiencing Meals on Whe...
07/17/2026

Repost
・・・
Thank you to Chief Nigel Miller for joining us during Community Champions Week and experiencing Meals on Wheels firsthand alongside our dedicated volunteers.

As Fire Chief, Chief Miller understands that keeping our community safe means more than responding to emergencies—it also means supporting programs that help prevent crises before they happen. Meals on Wheels is more than a meal service. Every delivery provides nutritious food, connection, reassurance, and routine wellness checks that help older adults remain healthy, independent, and safely at home.

By joining a delivery route and meeting participants, Chief Miller experienced firsthand how Meals on Wheels strengthens the well-being of older adults and helps build a safer, more connected community for everyone.

We appreciate Chief Miller’s leadership and his commitment to supporting the health, dignity, and independence of seniors throughout Santa Cruz County. ❤️🚒🥗

Last night’s successful evacuation drill with the McKay/Possumwood Firewise group provided valuable insights and highlig...
07/15/2026

Last night’s successful evacuation drill with the McKay/Possumwood Firewise group provided valuable insights and highlighted areas for improvement. Overall, it was a productive and informative experience!

Shoutout to Central Fire Defensible Space Inspector Specialist Tony Akin for supporting these groups!

When addressing your home’s wildfire readiness, take a “house out” approach. The area, known as Zone Zero, begins at you...
07/13/2026

When addressing your home’s wildfire readiness, take a “house out” approach. The area, known as Zone Zero, begins at your home’s exterior and extends outward 5 feet.

❌ Zone 0 = Zero combustibles ❌

Remove ALL combustibles, creating a 5-foot buffer around the home. This includes vegetation, outdoor furniture, firewood, and other combustibles.

You can use rock, pavers, concrete, or other non-combustible material to fill this area.

Learn more about how you can protect your home at ReadyForWildfire.org

Central Fire District is hiring Paid Call Firefighters! This is a great first step towards a career in the fire service....
07/11/2026

Central Fire District is hiring Paid Call Firefighters! This is a great first step towards a career in the fire service. Recruitment opens on July 15, 2026, and closes on September 30, 2026. The in-house PCF Academy will be held in January 2027.

Apply online at CalOpps.org/centralfiresc.

07/04/2026

Happy 4th of July from Central Fire! As you celebrate with family and friends, please help keep our communities safe. Leave the fireworks to the professionals and designate a sober driver.

Santa Cruz County has been recognized by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection as a Fire Risk Reduction C...
07/02/2026

Santa Cruz County has been recognized by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection as a Fire Risk Reduction Community. This is a designation that reflects years of work to make our communities safer and more resilient to wildfire.

What does this mean?

1) Qualifying homeowners, especially those on the FAIR plan, may be eligible for wildfire insurance discounts (check with your insurance provider).
2) The designation strengthens the County's ability to compete for millions of dollars in wildfire prevention grants to support projects like fuel reduction, community education, wildfire planning, and other resilience efforts.

This recognition was secured through the County's Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience (OR3) in partnership with Community Development & Infrastructure and our many local fire and community partners. It's another step forward in helping protect our communities from future wildfire risk.

Learn more about the Fire Risk Reduction Community program at:
https://bof.fire.ca.gov/projects-and-programs/fire-risk-reduction-community-list

Other helpful links for Fire Risk Reduction:

Defensible Space Guidelines: https://www.centralfiresc.org/2223/Defensible-Space

Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience: https://www.santacruzcountyca.gov/or3.aspx

Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County: https://www.firesafesantacruz.org/

Address

930 17th Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA
95062

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

(831) 479-6842

Website

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