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The Fire District
The MANTECA-LATHROP RURAL COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT was established in 1936 to provide fire protection for the township of Lathrop, rural Lathrop and rural Manteca. The Fire District was organized under the laws of the State of California, Health and Safety Code section 13800, known as the Fire Protection District law of 1987. It is governed by five members Board of Directors who are elected at-large to serve a four-year term. Since 1936 the district has developed into a pro-active Fire Department covering 100 square miles including the recently incorporated City of Lathrop. The District employees 38 career personnel and 15 reserve firefighter and staffs four strategically located fire stations.
In February of 2002, the Board of Directors changed the name to the LATHROP-MANTECA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
The Fire District is organized to maintain career personnel on duty, 24 hours a day, year round, to respond to emergencies from four fire stations. The Fire District's main fire station is located in the center of the City of Lathrop.
The authorized career personnel strength of the Fire District includes 37 uniformed employees, a Fire Chief, a Deputy Chief, (3) Division Chiefs, (12) Fire Captains and (21) Firefighters/Engineers. A reserve firefighter roster of members is maintained to augment the fire suppression force. In the Administrative Office, there are three non-safety employee, one that serves as the Business Manager for the fire Chief, a Fire Inspector and a Fire Permit Clerk. Since the incorporation of the City of Lathrop in 1989, The Fire District has developed plans to provide adequate coverage for the potential urban growth of the new City.
The District-wide fire suppression force is organized into three shifts consisting of eleven members each. Each of the shifts is on duty for rotating periods of 24 hours. Minimums of two members are on duty in each of the the two satellite fire stations at all times. Three members are assigned to the new station located in the City of Lathrop. Four members are assigned to the main station, also located within the City Limits.
The main Fire station is located at 800 East “J” Street in the City of Lathrop. Fire apparatus housed at this fire station consist of (1) 65 foot Tele-squirt pumper, (1) triple combination pumper, (1) quick attack squad, (1) 3000 gallon water-tender/pumper and (1) heavy rescue truck. Other fire apparatus located at the remaining stations consist of (6) pumpers and a rescue boat.
An aggressive fire prevention and code enforcement program is utilized, adopted by reference by both the City of Lathrop and the Fire District with some local additions, deletions and amendments. Companion ordinances establish fee for services, which include charged re-inspections that are required by the California Fire Code and State Fire Marshal’s regulations
The Fire Marshal administers the District’s fire prevention and code enforcement program. Plan checks are done by the Fire Marshal along with the more complex inspections. Fire Company personnel conduct inspections and annual re-inspections, Additional fire safety programs include smoke detector installation for the elderly and disabled, fire safety and awareness in the schools.
The Fire District provides continuous CPR training classes to the community. It is statistically proven that by training the citizen it will enhance the survival rate of a sudden death victim significantly.
The Lathrop-Manteca Fire District responds, not only to fires of all types, but also medical emergencies, traffic accident and river rescues. The Fire district is an active member of the San Joaquin County hazardous materials response team. The district is also the nucleus for developing a highly skilled urban search and rescue team. One of the latest additions to services rendered is the automatic defibrillator program, implemented in May of 1996.
The Mission of the Lathrop-Manteca Fire District is to protect Life and Property Through Efficient and Dedicated Response to the Emergency Needs of Our Community Delivered with Care, Skill and Compassion to All Who Need Our Aide.
The district is proud to claim 72 years of dedicated service to our community.