About the Department
The San Luis Fire Department was formed by volunteers in 1981. In 1988, the City Council authorized hiring full-time firefighters, transitioning to a fully paid, professional fire department.
The first fire station was located on 720 N 2nd Avenue and served San Luis from 1981 to 2007. As the city and population continued to grow, the need for a modern and more suitable station emerged. San Luis Fire Station Number 1, located at 1165 N. McCain Ave, was completed in 2007 and staffed with 21 firefighters, Certified Emergency Paramedics (CEPs), and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).
As the city exponentially expanded to the East, the need for a second station to serve this area was necessary. In August 2020, the governing City Council approved the construction of the San Luis Fire Station Number 2, and in June 2022, the construction began. Station Number 2 began operating in November 2023, now serving the people residing in East San Luis.
The San Luis Fire Department proudly protects approximately 45,000 people in an area comprised of about 33 square miles.
Today, our Fire Department is comprised of:
- 63 Full-time Employees
- 7 Part-time Employees
- 7 Fire Cadets (Student Firefighters)
Leadership
Chief Ramirez has been with the San Luis Fire Department (SLFD) since 2004. Beginning his career as a Firefighter/Paramedic, he rose through the ranks, serving as Fire Engineer and later becoming Captain in 2013. In 2016, he joined the SLFD executive leadership team as Assistant Fire Chief. After his predecessor retired in 2018, he was appointed Acting Fire Chief, and soon after, he became the city’s sixth Fire Chief in 2019.
Chief Ramirez has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish education which he received from Arizona State University (ASU). Through ASU’s Bob Ramsey Executive Education, Chief Ramirez earned a Certified Public Manager (CPM) designation, which is aimed at developing the effectiveness of municipal, county, state, tribal, and federal public managers, allowing him to better serve the community. He is also a Certified Emergency Paramedic and has achieved a Hazardous Materials Certification.
