Apple Valley Fire Protection District

What Apple Valley Fire Protection District does

Apple Valley Fire Protection District (AVFPD) is a California special fire district operating under the state's Health and Safety Code since its formation in 1951. The District provides all-hazard fire protection, paramedic-level Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency medical services, and technical rescue coverage across 206 square miles in the High Desert area of San Bernardino County, serving a population of approximately 90,000 residents in the Town of Apple Valley and adjacent unincorporated areas. AVFPD operates 7 fire stations (5 fully staffed 24/7, 1 leased to CalFIRE, 1 leased to American Medical Response), employs 51 full-time and 3 part-time/reserve personnel, and responds to approximately 13,000 incidents annually — of which roughly 10,000 are EMS-related. Beyond frontline response, the District runs an in-house fleet maintenance facility, an Office of the Fire Marshal (community risk reduction, fire investigations, plan reviews, apartment inspections), a Hazard Abatement Program covering 25,000+ parcels annually, a Defensible Space wildfire mitigation program, public education outreach, and CPR/First Aid certification training.

The District's revenue model is anchored in statutory tax authority rather than commercial sales. Primary funding comes from the general property tax levy collected through San Bernardino County and the voter-approved Measure A special fire tax (passed November 2016), which together form a stable recurring revenue base. Supplementary income is generated through transaction-based fees: burn permits ($15), apartment inspections ($227-$952 per complex, effective January 2026), plan reviews, CPR/First Aid classes ($40-$75 per person), development impact fees, and other cost-recovery charges authorized under Ordinance Nos. 63-72. The District has adopted eleven local ordinances codifying its regulatory authority over fire codes, hazard abatement, subdivision standards, wildland-urban interface requirements, fire flow, fee schedules, and administrative citations.

Operationally, AVFPD is governed by an elected five-member Board of Directors (with a Fire Chief as chief executive) and structured into three shifts led by three Battalion Chiefs, supported by a Fire Marshal, Finance Officer, Administrative Services, and Fleet Maintenance divisions. Key operational partnerships include CalFIRE (joint station at Tussing Ranch Road for State Responsibility Area inspections and BLS engine response), AMR (ambulance transport integration), San Bernardino County Comm Center (dispatch services), PulsePoint Foundation (citizen CPR notification), and High Desert Community Foundation (administration of the Apple Valley Public Safety Fund). The FY 2020-21 budget was $13.7 million, drawn entirely from public-sector sources with no private capital, no funding rounds, and no parent company structure.

Name

Apple Valley Fire Protection District

Legal name

Apple Valley Fire Protection District

Website

https://avfpd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Apple Valley Fire Protection District is a California special fire district providing fire suppression, paramedic-level ALS emergency medical services, technical rescue, and community risk reduction across 206 square miles in San Bernardino County, serving approximately 90,000 residents through 7 fire stations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Safety / Fire Protection and Emergency Medical Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (92216), Fire Protection (922160)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire & Life Safety Services (Inspection/Testing/Sprinklers/Alarms) (IMAIAAAI), Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)

Keywords

• Fire protection services
• Emergency medical services
• Technical rescue operations
• Fire prevention inspections
• Public safety education

Headquarters

HQ city

Apple Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. General Property Tax Levy: Primary revenue source received through San Bernardino County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector from general property taxes
2. Measure A Special Tax Assessment: Special fire tax approved by voters in November 2016 enabling re-opening of two fire stations and sustaining district operations
3. Service Fees: Fees for burn permits ($15), apartment inspections, plan reviews, and other fire prevention services
4. Development Impact Fees: DIF fees for new development within the district

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Apple Valley Fire Protection District provides all-hazard fire protection, emergency medical services (paramedic-level ALS), and technical rescue response across 206 square miles in San Bernardino County. The District operates 7 fire stations with 5 fully staffed 24/7, responding to approximately 13,000 service calls annually. Complementary services include fire prevention inspections, plan reviews, hazard abatement, public education, and CPR/First Aid training.

Product overview

Apple Valley Fire Protection District operates as a single unified fire protection and emergency services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of core emergency response services and community support programs. The District's core services include Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Services (ALS-level paramedic care), and Technical Rescue capabilities. Supporting these frontline services are Administration, Fleet Maintenance, and Community Risk Reduction divisions. The District provides regulatory services through the Office of the Fire Marshal including permit processing, plan reviews, apartment inspections, and hazard abatement. Community-focused offerings include Public Education programs, CPR/First Aid training, and the Fire Explorers youth development program. The District utilizes modern emergency response technology including PulsePoint Respond for citizen emergency notification and maintains an in-house fleet maintenance facility for its fleet of fire engines, paramedic squads, ladder trucks, water tenders, and brush engines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fire Suppression Fire suppression services delivered by three Battalion Chiefs overseeing three operational shifts across five fire stations staffed 24/7, responding to approximately 13,000 service calls annually.
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Paramedic-level Advanced Life Support (ALS) services from all frontline fire apparatus with strategic station locations enabling 6-minute response times; approximately 10,000 of 13,000 annual calls are EMS-related.
• Technical Rescue Advanced technical rescue capabilities including Swift Water Rescue, High/Low Angle Rescues, Auto Extrication, and Trench Rescues, staffed by specially trained firefighters certified in Rescue Systems I & II, Swift Water Rescue I & II, and Trench Rescue.
• PulsePoint Integration 911-connected mobile application (PulsePoint Respond) that informs citizens of nearby emergencies and requests CPR assistance, plus PulsePoint AED registry for building public AED locations database.
• Hazard Abatement Program Annual inspection program covering 25,000+ parcels within Town of Apple Valley to ensure combustible vegetation and debris removal, with 30-day compliance notices issued for non-compliant properties.
• Defensible Space Program Wildland-urban interface fire prevention program providing property owners guidance on creating buffers between structures and wildland areas to slow or halt wildfire spread.
• Office of the Fire Marshal Community Risk Reduction through fire investigations, State Mandated Apartment Inspections, Annual Operational Permitted Inspections, and fire prevention initiatives.
• Apartment Inspections State-mandated annual Fire and Life Safety Inspections for apartment complexes per California Senate Bill No. 1205, with smoke detector and carbon monoxide certification requirements and tiered pricing from $227 to $952 per complex.
• Plan Review Services Fire protection plan review services for new construction, tenant improvements, fire alarms, sprinklers, and underground fire protection systems.
• Permit Services Various permit services including Burn Permits ($15 annually), Special Event Permits, County Fire Letters, Certificates of Occupancy, Plan Reviews, and Development Applications.
• CPR/First Aid Training American Heart Association certified training classes offered monthly including First Aid ($40/person), Heartsaver CPR ($40/person), Advanced Healthcare Provider ($75/person), and skills-only testing ($50/person).
• Public Education Program Multi-dimensional education program including On Fire for Literacy, Fire Safety/Prevention Assemblies, Fire Extinguisher Training, Station Tours, and Stewie the Duck water safety program.
• Fire Explorers Program Youth development program for ages 14-21 providing a pathway from Fire Explorer to Fire Academy to full-time Firefighter positions, aligned with the District's 'home-grown' employee philosophy.
• Fireworks Enforcement Enforcement program for illegal fireworks prohibition in Apple Valley, including contactless and in-person administrative citation processes.
• Apple Valley Public Safety Fund Community donation program supporting public education, equipment purchases, Fire Explorer training, victim assistance, and life-saving equipment including CPR training devices and AEDs.
• Sandbag Distribution Free sandbags and sand materials provided to Apple Valley residents (up to 10 per resident) for flood and emergency preparedness.
• Sharps Disposal (Medical Waste) Sharps container collection service for Apple Valley residents (effective January 1, 2026, transitioning to Household Hazardous Waste facility).
• Safe Surrender Site Designated Safe Haven sites at all fire stations under Safe Surrender State Law, allowing mothers to surrender babies up to 3 days old confidentially.
• Honor Guard Distinguished ceremonial unit of six to ten personnel performing honors at 9/11 ceremonies, funerals, community events, and public safety milestones.
• Fire Hazard Severity Zone Mapping Fire hazard zone classification and mapping program in partnership with CAL FIRE, providing Moderate, High, and Very High wildfire risk designations within the District's jurisdiction.
• Administration Services Comprehensive administrative services including recruitment, employment testing, hiring/onboarding, benefits coordination, payroll processing, personnel records management, and Board Clerk duties.
• Fleet Maintenance In-house fleet maintenance facility servicing fire engines, paramedic squads, ladder trucks, water tenders, brush engines, and command staff vehicles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Respond to approximately 13,000 service calls annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CalFIREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStation 335 at 21860 Tussing Ranch Road is leased to CalFIRE. The station is staffed full-time with a Basic Life Support (BLS) engine (E3557). CalFIRE conducts LE 100 inspections on properties within the State Responsibility Area (SRA) to mitigate potential fire hazards. E3557 also responds to assist AVFPD on structure fires, high-priority medical aids, and traffic accidents.
• AMR (American Medical Response)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStation 333 at 20604 Highway 18 is leased to AMR for ambulance transport services. While AVFPD provides immediate emergency medical care and paramedic-level ALS services, AMR manages transportation to hospitals.
• Regional Fire Protection Authority (RFPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA joint powers authority created in 1981 with local fire agencies to share costs of modern dispatching and fleet maintenance. The JPA was put in abeyance in 2009 when the City of Victorville contracted with San Bernardino County Fire Department for emergency services.
• High Desert Community FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Apple Valley Fire Public Safety Fund is administered through the High Desert Community Foundation, allowing community members to make tax-deductible donations to support equipment purchases, training, and public safety programs.
• San Bernardino County Comm CentercoreTechnology or IntegrationAVFPD contracts with San Bernardino County Comm Center for communications/dispatch services.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CAL FIRE: California state fire agency providing wildland fire protection and State Responsibility Area (SRA) services. Co-located with AVFPD via Station 335 lease; conducts LE 100 inspections and responds on mutual-aid incidents across the High Desert.
• Riverside County Fire Department: County-level fire/EMS provider serving western Riverside County, including WUI areas similar to AVFPD's High Desert zone. Comparable all-hazard response, ALS capability, and community risk reduction mandate.
• Orange County Fire Authority: Regional JPA fire authority serving most of Orange County. Useful structural peer illustrating the regional JPA alternative to AVFPD's standalone special-district model.
• San Bernardino County Fire Department: County-level fire and EMS provider covering unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County (where AVFPD also operates) and contracted cities including Victorville. Comparable all-hazard response model and EMS/ALS capability, with overlapping jurisdiction and shared dispatch via the County Comm Center.

Direct peers

• Menlo Park Fire Protection District: Independent California special fire district governed under California Health and Safety Code like AVFPD. Comparable governance structure (elected board, parcel-tax funding, ALS service delivery) and provides a relevant structural peer.
• North County Fire Protection District (CA): Independent special district providing fire/EMS and community risk reduction in northern San Diego County. Same California Health and Safety Code governance model and similar reliance on voter-approved special taxes.
• Victorville Fire Department: Municipal fire service in the adjacent City of Victorville, formerly in the RFPA JPA with AVFPD. Directly comparable High Desert service area, and a key illustration of the regionalization/consolidation risk AVFPD faces.
• Rancho Cucamonga Fire District: Inland Empire special fire district with comparable California governance, paramedic-level service, and a similar mix of fire suppression, technical rescue, and fire prevention programs.

Others

• AMR (American Medical Response): National private ambulance/EMS transport provider; leases AVFPD's Station 333 and provides inter-facility and emergency transport across the region. Adjacent/partner peer rather than direct competitor, but represents the broader EMS delivery ecosystem.
• PulsePoint Foundation: Public 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose PulsePoint Respond app is integrated with AVFPD's dispatch for citizen CPR notification and AED registry. Relevant as a technology/integration peer but not a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/avfpd
• Facebookfacebook.com/Apple-Valley-Fire-Protection-District
• Instagraminstagram.com/avfpd/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apple-valley-fire-protection-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apple Valley Fire Protection District