Fire Department Leadership
Rick Vogt, Fire Chief
760-839-5400
Email Chief Vogt
The Escondido Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the City of Escondido and, through a contractual arrangement established in 1984, the Rincon Del Diablo Fire Protection District. A staff of 93 full-time safety (including Chief Officers), 18 full-time non-safety, 10 full-time administration, 3 part-time administration, and 20 support volunteers provides services to a population of approximately 153,614 in an area covering 50 square miles in North San Diego County, California.
The Mission of the Escondido Fire Department is to serve the public and to safeguard the community from the impact of fire, medical, and environmental emergencies through education, emergency services, and enforcement.
The following Divisions and staff members within the Escondido Fire Department fulfill and support these responsibilities:
OPERATIONS DIVISION
John Tenger, Deputy Chief
760-839-5402
Email Chief Tenger
- Apparatus and Equipment Purchase and Maintenance
- Communications Resources
- Emergency Medical Services Delivery
- Firefighting Operations
- Hazardous Materials Operations
- Mapping and Pre-planning
- Mutual and Automatic Aid
- Personnel Issues
- Rescue Operations
- Suppression Crews Operations & Scheduling
- Total Quality Management Service Delivery
Jeff Sargis, Battalion Chief
760-839-5405
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- A-Shift Supervision
- Apparatus and Equipment
- Support Volunteers
Tyler Batson, Battalion Chief
760-839-5405
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- B-Shift Supervision
- Facilities
Britt Matthews, Battalion Chief
760-839-5405
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- C-Shift Supervision
- EMS
- Training
- Public Education
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
Art Holcomb, Division Chief
760-839-5403
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- Fire Department Training and Education Programs
- Emergency Medical Services Training
- EMS Program Oversight
- Health and Safety
Jeanne McFarland, EMS Program Coordinator
760 839-5429
Email Jeanne McFarland
- Training and Education Records and Administrations
- EMS Functional Area Coordination
- Health and Safety Records
- Public Access AED
- Inter-Agency EMS Coordination
- Hospital Liaison
ADMINISTRATION DIVISION
Laura Costello, Administrative Manager
760-839-5408
Email Laura Costello
Jennifer Vasquez, Administrative Coordinator
Alexis Janssen, Administrative Assistant
vacant, Department Aide
- Budget & Financial Management (Fees, Cost Recovery, Costing of New Services)
- City Council Liaison
- Human Resources Liaison
- Grant Management
- Contract Management
- Management Information Systems (RMS/Data Analysis)
- Policy and Procedures
- Clerical Support
FIRE PREVENTION DIVISION
LaVona Koretke, Deputy Fire Marshal
760-839-5415
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Robyn Taylor, Fire Prevention Specialist
Andrew Modglin, Fire Prevention Specialist
Mike Roppo, Fire Prevention Specialist
Craig Myers, Department Specialist
- Community Fire and Life Safety Information
- Fire Code Administration
- Fire Investigation
- Hazardous Materials Management
- Inspection Programs
- New Development/Plan Review
- Public Information
- Weed Abatement
- Health & Safety Program
EMERGENCY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS DIVISION
Jeff Murdock, Emergency/Disaster Preparedness Manager
760-839-5400
Email Jeff Murdock
- Citywide Disaster Planning Coordination
- City Employee Disaster Training
- Emergency Operations Center Development and Maintenance
- County Office of Disaster Preparedness Liaison
- Inter-agency Coordination
- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)