Early History
The history of fire protection in Santa Clara dates back to 1854 when local residents formed the first volunteer fire brigade, the Columbia Hose Company. Firefighting equipment of the time consisted of a hose cart and bucket brigade. In the decades to follow, a complete steamer was acquired, and then a hook and ladder company. For the rest of the 19th century, all firefighting equipment was hand or horse drawn to the fire. Over the years, the volunteer fire department continually modernized equipment and upgraded the level of fire protection. In 1927, Santa Clara purchased its first motor driven water pumper, an Ahrens-Fox. A combination ladder truck and pumper was added in 1941. The volunteer fire department served the community well for almost a century, but as the city continued to grow, so did the need for a full-time fire department.

The Modern Era
In 1949, with post-World War II growth, the City recognized the need to establish a paid, full time, professional department to augment services provided by volunteers. The City's first fire station was constructed and the first paid Fire Chief, Leonard George, was hired. During the 1950s, the City built three more fire stations and purchased three fire pumpers and one aerial ladder truck.

In the 1960s, as Santa Clara continued to grow along with the semiconductor industry, the City added two more fire stations, and built a four-story wood frame drill tower on Walsh Avenue near Scott Boulevard. In the 1970s, as the region and City grew at a record pace, a Hazardous Materials Division of the Fire Department was established, one of the first in the nation, and a model for other jurisdictions.

Today, the Fire Department has 10 fire stations and is staffed by 177 paid fire service personnel who are supported by more than 60 men and women in the Volunteer Reserve Division and dedicated clerical staff. In 1949, the primary responsibility of the Fire Department was to respond to fires. Today, firefighters respond to approximately 8,000 emergency calls annually. These firefighters respond to all types of emergencies including fires, hazardous materials spills, emergency medical calls, specialized rescue, and more.