The Cathedral City Fire Department was dedicated and began service on January 1, 1988 starting with twenty full-time fire personnel operating out of two stations. Administration, which was housed at Station 412, consisted of the Fire Chief, Administrative Captain, and a part-time Secretary.  Reserve firefighters, for the first year, provided on-call staffing for a third engine company.

July               1987    The City Council notifies the Riverside County Fire Department that they do not intend to renew their fire contract.

October       1987   The City recruits a "Fire Chief" to organize and implement the City's own full-time fire services.

November   1987   The City recruits, tests and hires "Firefighters, Engineers, and Captains" to staff the new department.

December   1987   New department personnel research and purchase all tools, equipment and apparatus needed to start a new fire department. December showed how much can be accomplished when everyone works together to achieve a common goal.  The "Team Work" set a strong foundation that the department has continually built upon.

January        1988   At 0800 fire protection services transferred from the California Department of Forestry to the new "Cathedral City Fire Department".

January        1988   The department applied for and were successful in obtaining a fire engine from the "Office Of Emergency Services".

February       1988   Department hires a "Part-Time Fire Marshal" to do plan checking and to enforce the Uniform Fire Code.

March           1988   Entered into an automatic and "Mutual Aid Agreement" with Palm Springs.

March           1988   The Fire Department held its first "Public Open House".  There was a tremendous turnout.  Food, balloons, and demonstrations were very well received by the public and elected officials present.

June              1988   The Firefighters Association held a pancake breakfast at the Community Center to raise funds for the "Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation".  Doctor George Fischbeck was presented with a check for $1000.

July                1988   The department increases its clerical support by hiring a full-time "Secretary".

August           1988   "Three Reserve Firefighters" were hired to serve as relief personnel.

September     1988   The "Fire Marshal's" position was increased from a part-time position to a full-time position. An open test was held and a Captain/Fire Marshal was hired.

November     1988   Negotiated and "Purchased Fire Station 411" from Riverside County.

May                1989   Recruited, tested, and hired six "Paramedic/Firefighters" for the new fire department paramedic ambulance service.

June              1989   Cathedral City began "Paramedic Ambulance Services".  The program started with two completely equipped ambulances.

October        1989   Department holds its first annual "Fire Prevention Week" open house.  The event concludes a week of community fire prevention activities.

November    1989   After establishing a committee that developed bid specifications, the department purchased a new 100 foot "LTI Aerial Ladder Truck". The truck was designed as a two-piece company along with the paramedic ambulance. The truck company formed the department's third full-time unit.

March           1990   The Fire Marshal, with donated monies, started a "Free Smoke Detector" program that makes smoke detectors available to low income and elderly families throughout the city.

May               1991   The department participated in the "Insurance Service Office" (ISO) survey of the City. The survey resulted in an improvement from a class 6-9 to a class 4.

July                1991   Due to the economy and budget cuts, the department "Lost Three Relief Firefighter Positions" and the department secretary. With the help of the entire department, all personnel scheduled for layoff were retained until other jobs/openings were found.

August          1991   The department purchased a "Radio Repeater" site from the City of Desert Hot Springs. The repeater greatly improved the department's radio system.

October       1991   After a lot of development and company training, the department began a "Company Fire Inspection Program".

November   1991   After a department review and amendments developed, the City Council adopted the "1988 Uniform Fire Code" and fee schedule.

February       1992   The City's new "Emergency Operations Center" (EOC) is completed and dedicated.

August          1992   After two years of planning by the department's staff, "Fire Station Three" construction is complete. The station which includes 7000 square feet of commercial lease space is the first public/private partnership project the City has undertaken.  The station is a model for others to follow.

June               1995   The department began offering monthly Adult/Child/Infant Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation classes to residents of the City.

July                 1995   First State Fire Marshal training class offered in the Emergency Operations Center.  The class was in Fire Investigation and was opened to all Coachella Valley Firefighters.

July                 1996   Reserve Paramedic/Firefighter program is developed and implemented.  Six Paramedic Reserves were hired to provide staffing for the backup medic unit during the nighttime hours (1600 - 0600).

August          1996   One Battalion Chief position reclassified to Assistant Fire Chief.

November    1996   Cathedral City's Fire Chief, George Truppelli, resigns to accept City Manager's position with the City.  Assistant Chief Sowles appointed as the Interim Fire Chief.

February       1997   Citizen Emergency Response Training (CERT) program is adopted by the department to train Neighborhood Emergency Service Team members.

February        1997   Due to addition of Reserve Firefighter/Paramedics to the department, five regular Reserves apply for and receive acceptance into medic school.

 July               1997   Citizen Emergency Response Training program graduates first class of 15 volunteers.

August           1997   The department took possession of a newer Office of Emergency Services (OES) fire engine.  The City's previous engine (187) was sent to Fallbrook, while the newer engine (238) came from Riverside City.

 

September     1997   Council approves and funds Free Community CPR program for all residents of Cathedral City.