San Antonio Valley, South Sonoma County, Petaluma, California

"About Us"

San Antonio Fire is an all volunteer fire department formed in 1966 by local ranchers after a wildland fire swept through the valley taxing local resources. Starting from a humble beginning of one engine the department has grown to a cadre of 6 pieces of rolling stock and 25 volunteers. Ironically the original engine was purchased from Marin County Fire after it was burned over in the fire that prompted the department's forming. Unlike many departments that have a tax assessment support, San Antonoio is supported entirely by donations and it's fund raising activities.

Sitting about 40 miles north of San Francisco and 25 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, our response area covers approximately 35 square miles and is a mix of agricultural, residential and light commercial. Our northern boundry is the Petaluma City Limits, southern is the Marin County Line, east is the Petaluma River and west is "D" Street and it's extension. A major North / South coastal traffic artery, State Highway 101, at the eastern side of our area gives us a large amount of traffic related calls. Since this section of the highway has not yet been improved to freeway specifications with over/underpasses and has 100,000 vehicles/day load, the high speed roll-over and "T-bone" is a common occurence. Summertime, with dry weather, brings high fire danger to the rolling grasslands usually resulting in a couple of 20+ acre wildfires. Just short of 200 calls per year is our expected average.