San Rafael Firefighters

🏆 Investing in the Future of Public Service

Members of the San Rafael Firefighters Association were honored to attend the senior awards nights at both Terra Linda High School and San Rafael High School to present the Paul Crimmins Memorial Public Servant Scholarship.

This year’s recipients are Lacey Graham of Terra Linda High School and Vivienne Reyes of San Rafael High School. Each student was awarded a $1,500 scholarship, funded entirely through donations from members of the San Rafael Firefighters Association.

Recipients were selected through an application and interview process that highlighted their commitment to public service, leadership, and dedication to helping others. Both students have demonstrated a passion for serving their communities and plan to pursue careers focused on making a positive impact.

Congratulations to Lacey and Vivienne on this well-deserved recognition. We wish you continued success in your education and future careers in public service.

🚒🌊🚁 Fire Boat San Rafael recently trained with U.S. Coast Guard helicopter on rescue basket operations in the bay.

Training alongside partner agencies helps prepare crews for complex water rescue incidents where coordination and communication are critical.

We appreciate the opportunity to train together and continue strengthening our capabilities on the water.

🚒 San Rafael Fire Captain Chandra and Engineer Villalobos recently attended a 3-day live fire training hosted by at the Bay Area Fire Conference.

The training focused on forcible entry, hose management, VEIS, ventilation, and RIC operations under live fire conditions.

Training Captain Alvarez also assisted as an instructor for the course.

Training in realistic fire conditions helps firefighters sharpen critical skills, improve coordination, and prepare for the demanding environments encountered on the fireground. Huge Thanks to the for continuing to host these incredible training opportunities.

Strong teamwork on the water today. 🌊🚒🐾

Fire Boat San Rafael responded to a stranded paddle boarder who had been blown to the Marin Islands and was unable to safely return to shore.

With the assistance of community member Vladislav “Bruce” Pasterov — who paddled out to the islands and helped bring the victim and her dog to the approaching fire boat — crews were able to safely rescue both and transport them to Loch Lomond Marina.

A great example of community members and first responders working together for a safe outcome.

Happy International Firefighters’ Day. 🚒

From the horse-drawn era to today’s modern fire service, generations of San Rafael Firefighters have answered the call, serving and protecting our community for over 150 years.

🚒 Bringing the right mindset to the job

San Rafael Firefighters had the pleasure of hosting Search Culture with Justin McWilliams.

This training goes beyond tactics—it’s about decision-making, accountability, and building a culture that supports strong, consistent performance on every call.

Thank you to and for sharing your knowledge and allowing us to host this training.

We also appreciate the surrounding agencies who attended and trained alongside us. Opportunities like this make all of us better.

Yesterday E55 crew aboard Fire Boat San Rafael conducted joint training with Coast guard helicopter 6531. They practiced water rescue techniques and transferring victims from the Coast Guard helicopter to the deck of FBSR where victims can be treated and transported to the hospital. Training with our surrounding agencies in inclement weather is of upmost importance when it comes to responding to complex incidents on the water. We are appreciative of these opportunities and hope to continue to build these relationships in the future.

🔥 Preventing tomorrow’s fires today

SRFA crews are conducting prescribed burns to reduce vegetation and lower wildfire risk.

Smoke in the area is expected—this is a controlled operation with firefighters on scene.

Work like this helps protect our community before fire season arrives. You can do your part too—maintaining defensible space around your home makes a big difference in slowing fire spread and improving safety.

We are seeing flooding in multiple areas throughout San Rafael. Our crews have already rescued several people from vehicles that became stuck after attempting to drive through flooded roadways. Please do not drive through standing or moving water. Turn around, don’t drown.