Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services

The Folsom Fire Department offers fire protection and emergency medical services for the City of Folsom. A staff of 74 provides complete fire suppression, rescue, prevention, public education, hazardous materials response and emergency medical services to the community. The Fire Department is responsible for providing service to a population of approximately 60,000 in an area covering 24 square miles in eastern Sacramento County.

Today’s Fire Department has its roots in California’s Gold Rush era when the Folsom Volunteer Fire Department was established. Early volunteers rushed to the fire scene when an alarm sounded. They fought fires by passing buckets of water from volunteer to volunteer (the bucket brigade) to get water from the source to the fire. In the early 1900s, the Fire Department purchased a Ford Model T, replacing the horse drawn water pumps used in the late 1800s. While the Model T is long gone, the City still maintains two older fire trucks for parades and special functions.

Chief Eric Dutton launched his firefighting career as a volunteer in the Folsom Fire Department during his senior year at Folsom High School. After a few emergency calls, he knew this was the career path he wanted to follow. Since he was hired by the department in 1976, he has worked as a full-time firefighter, engineer, suppression captain and training officer. In 1995 he was promoted to administrative battalion chief responsible for training, safety, personnel matters and operations. Two years later he was appointed Chief of the Folsom Fire Department.

After graduating from Folsom High School, Chief Dutton received an AS in Fire Technology from American River College and a Bachelors Degree in Fire Administration from Cogswell Polytechnical College in Sunnyvale. He has attended numerous courses in the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy. Chief Dutton is a past chairperson and the City of Folsom representative to the Sacramento Regional Fire/EMS Communications Center. He is also a member of the Sacramento County Fire Advisory Board and vice-chair of the Sacramento County Fire Chief’s Association.

MISSION STATEMENT

• The Fire Department of the City of Folsom is dedicated to enhance and protect the quality of life for all residents and visitors of the City, as well as its employees by providing prompt response to aid the sick or injured, control the spread of fire, to mitigate accidental hazardous material releases and to provide fire prevention through the use of code enforcement, fire investigation and education.
• We commit to furnish rapid access and response to calls for help through the universal 9-1-1 emergency telephone number, and employ trained professional staff to mitigate all such emergencies.
• We shall readily provide support to our neighboring communities upon requests for emergency assistance through mutual aid agreements and gratefully accept their support in our similar times of crisis.
• We strive to progressively improve our system through training and operational programs in order to protect the safety and welfare of our employees and the citizens they serve.
• We are determined to serve in an efficient manner, with pride and concern for the present and excitement for the challenges of the future.

Comments or suggestions regarding the Fire Department's web page may be directed to Beverly Fuchs, bfuchs@folsom.ca.us, (916) 984-2297.