The Nevada City Fire Department has been proudly serving the citizens and visitors of Nevada City since 1860. The department was organized in June 1860 as a Volunteer Fire Department and has been in continual operation since then. According to historical records, it was the women of Nevada City who took the first step toward the organization of the permanent Fire Department by holding a ball at the court house and later a theatrical show. Monies earned from these events went into a fund to be held in trust towards the formation of the Fire Department.

The Nevada City Fire Department provides emergency services to all residents and visitors that come to Nevada City on a daily basis. We respond to structure fires, emergency medical incidents, rescues, hazardous materials incidents, automobile fires and wildland fires.

In 2018 the Nevada City Fire Department and the Grass Valley Fire Department entered into a Shared Administration pilot program.  With the success of that program the two agencies fully merged in 2020 with Nevada City contracting for services through Grass Valley.  This has resulted in a single agency comprised of a Fire Chief, a Division Chief (Nevada City), three Battalion Chiefs, and emergency response and fire prevention personnel staffing three fire stations between the two cities. Nevada City Station 5 located at 201 Providence Mine Road in Nevada City responds to approximately 1,200 calls for service a year and provides 24 hour, year-round service. Fire Station 5 currently operates a 2020 KME Type I engine and a 2011 HME Type III Brush Engine. Station personnel respond to calls in other jurisdictions under a Mutual Aid and Auto Aid Agreements. Our Department has been out on numerous wildland fires and other disasters with the US Forest Service, the California Department of Forestry and the Office of Emergency Services.

Grass Valley Fire Department