SALINAS FIRE DEPARTMENT
2025 ANNUAL REPORT
SAMUEL P. KLEMEK, FIRE CHIEF
“Over the past year, our department responded to 17,800+ emergencies with professionalism and compassion while strengthening training and partnerships. As our community grows, we remain focused on investing in our people, resources, and long-term readiness to keep Salinas safe.” Message
CHIEF’S
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
10 98
3 Engineer
Vacancies
1 Deputy Fire
Marshal Vacancy
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
SAMUEL P. KLEMEK
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
Administrative
Captain
C Platoon
B Platoon
FIRE CHIEF
ESTEFANIA VARGAS
MANAGEMENT ANALYST
LEXI URIBE
Office Technician
Battalion Chief
A Platoon
Paul Fenwick
Cary Lesch
Battalion Chief
B Platoon
Steven Criste
Division Chief
EMS
Christopher Knapp
Division Chief
Prevention/Fire Marshal
Office
Technician
Fire Inspectors (3)
A Platoon
Training Coordinator
Training Coordinator
Training Coordinator
A Platoon
EMS Training Coordinator
B Platoon
EMS Training Coordinator
C Platoon
EMS Training Coordinator
Captain (2)
Engineer (2)
Firefighter (4)
Station 1
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 2
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 3
Captain (2)
Engineer (2)
Firefighter (4)
Station 1
Captain (2)
Engineer (2)
Firefighter (4)
Station 1
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 2
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 2
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 3
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 3
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 4
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 4
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 4
Captain (2)
Engineer (2)
Firefighter (4)
Station 5
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 6
Captain (2)
Engineer (2)
Firefighter (4)
Station 5
Captain (2)
Engineer (2)
Firefighter (4)
Station 5
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 6
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Station 6
Captain
Engineer
Firefighter
Administrative
Analyst
DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF
SHANE VANDERVEEN
Alejandro Limon
Division Chief
Training
Battalion Chief
C Platoon
108
TOTAL PERSONNEL
FIRE
SUPPRESSION STAFF
David Furey
Deputy Fire
Marshal - Vacant
105 Full time
3 Part time
PT Fire Inspector
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
28 HAZMAT CERTIFIED
6 MECHANICS
4 INSPECTORS
93 FIREFIGHTERS
BY THE NUMBERS
POPULATION
160,783
FIRE
STATIONS
6 ANNUAL BUDGET
32.8M
25 PARAMEDICS
68 EMTs
6 ENGINES
LADDERS
2 1
BATTALION CHIEF
DAILY STAFFING
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
17,800+
EMERGENCIES
Incoming units will replace aging frontline equipment
New apparatus are in production, with more planned
MODERN AND STABLE FLEET
ESTIMATED SERVICE LIFE
OF APPARATUS
Type 1 Engine: 10 years frontline, 5 years reserve
Type 6 Engine: 10 - 12 years
Ladder Truck: 15 - 18 years, depending upon wear and compliance Rescue/Support Units: 10 - 12 years
Current Orders in Progress
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
Lead times are now 48-51 months
Firefighters per 1,000 Residents (Comparison)
.58
1.2 0.97
8 Staffing Breakdown
Prevention Staff
Suppression Staff
Administrative
7 93
Current Staffing vs. Service Demand
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
Gap in staffing capacity: +160 firefighters needed in total to meet service demand Demand for service is increasing
Staffing below national benchmarks
Strategic funding needed to meet future needs
17,858
Number of Calls by Type
TOTAL NUMBER OF CALLS
False Alarms
5.2%
Haz. Conditions
1.4%
INCIDENT RESPONSE
Other
.07%
Percentage of Calls by Type
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
2025 FIRE RESPONSE
94 Fire Incidents by Type
111
MUTUAL AID GIVEN
MUTUAL AID RECEIVED
$72.4M
TOTAL ESTIMATED
PROPERTY VALUE AT RISK
-$3.5M
ESTIMATED PROPERTY
VALUE LOST
68.9M
ESTIMATED PROPERTY
VALUE SAVED
153
RESIDENTIAL
STRUCTURE FIRES
Annual Budget to
Property Value Saved
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
RESPONSE TIMES: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Traffic Congestion
Traffic Calming Measures
Overlapping Calls
Simultaneous Calls
Factors that contribute to delayed response:
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
Response times currently exceed national standards for Fire and EMS
10% IS NTL. STANDARD
Percent of time unit is being utilized in a 24-hour period. % of time units are actively engaged
vs.
total available hours per unit
11.6%
11.4%
11.6%
7.9%
6.5%
8.4%
5.1%
2.3%
UNIT HOUR UTILIZATION
10%+ = unit is over-utilized = lower probability that the closest fire engine will be available when 9-1-1 is called
PERCENTAGE
2025
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
commitment to innovation
In treatment, technology, avenues of transport, and patient destinations AUTO
ACCIDENTS
TOTAL EMS CALLS
1,223
TRAINING HOURS
1,177
CARDIAC ARREST SAVES
50 68 EMTs
25 PARAMEDICS
11,487
7% ALOC*
*Altered Level of Consciousness
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
Baird and Hewko
Thomas and Nijmeddin
Davis and Valdez
Salinas and Macoubrie
2025 PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATIONS
5 SFD firefighters earned certification, reinforcing professional development and strengthening emergency medical response amid rising call volumes 2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
EMS TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS
NARCAN LEAVE-BEHIND KITS
480
PARAMEDIC STUDENTS SUPPORTED
4 160
NARCAN AWARENESS TRAINING
TO CITY EMPLOYEES
50 TRAINING TO SALINAS POLICE DEPARTMENT (SPD)
24 SPD Civilian Employees
for Stop the Bleed training
SPD SWAT TEAM
for Tactical EMS
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
HAZMAT TRAINING HOURS
TRAINING HOURS PER FIREFIGHTER
371
5 NEW HAZMAT TECHNICIAN SPECIALISTS
37,151
TRAINING HOURS
1,200
5 NEW IN-HOUSE REGISTERED INSTRUCTORS
TRAINING DIVISION
TRAINING DIVISION HIGHLIGHTS
Focus — Learning Management System (LMS) Modernization; Inter‑agency Operations; Career Development, and New Video Training Equipment.
Core Subjects — Building Construction; Incident Management; Water Supply; Wildland; Swift Water; Tablet Command; Mental Health; Firefighter Down; Hazmat; Driver/Operator; Live Fire; FF1/FF2 Instructor; Wildlife Fire, and Helicopter Operations.
Strong Regional Partners — Cal Fire; Monterey County Regional Fire; North County Fire, and Marina Fire.
Promotions & Professional Development — Supported 7 Captain Candidates during a one-week long Captain’s College for prospective new Fire Captains, and 5 FF’s achieved paramedic accreditation. 2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
PREVENTION DIVISION
Increased contractual capacity to support permitting and fire plan review increased demand on inspection services continues.
Additional supervisory support will be necessary to sustain service levels Fireworks Statistics
Inspections
Code Inspections
1,217
Permit Inspections
1,234
Permits Issued
364
Permits Reviewed
703
Projects Reviewed
120
Backlog Data
Citations Issued
96 Citations Collected
$102,748.12
Codes
698
Permits
174
Inspections Not Yet Completed
2025 Total Revenue
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
SFD CADETS
Goal met: Grew from 11 cadets (2024) to 20 cadets (2025) by adding 9 new cadets; 14 mentors supporting the program.
December End-of-year Drill: Auto extrication on 4 vehicles; hands-on hydraulic tool practice.
Monthly training: hose/nozzle; search & rescue; SCBA; forcible entry; ground ladders; EMS; auto extrication; professional development.
Pathways: ROTC option for post‑college service or limited participation.
Impact: Builds leadership, teamwork, and real-world fire service experience. 2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
RIDE-ALONGS CONDUCTED
96 100
19 SPECIAL EVENTS SUPPORTED
PUBLIC
EDUCATION
EVENTS
20 FIRE CADETS
MET 2025 GOAL!
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
FIRE STATION 1 REMODEL
Relocated to a temporary home near Sherwood
Infrastructure and years of deferred maintenance
Strengthened the station’s safety, reliability, and long‑term ability to serve the residents of Salinas Outside before
Outside after
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
Inside Bay Area before
Inside Bay Area after
Kitchen/Dayroom in progress
Inside Kitchen & Dayroom after
Generator
Bay Area in progress
Bathroom in progress
Kitchen in progress
Dayroom in progress
Kitchen in progress
2025 ANNUAL REPORT | READY FOR TOMORROW, SERVING TODAY
The Salinas Fire Department is dedicated to preserving and protecting the safety of our community with integrity, pride, and commitment.
SAMUEL P. KLEMEK, FIRE CHIEF
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
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