Who and Where We Are
The Monterey County Regional Fire District covers approximately 400 square miles and approximately 40,000 residents. Due to the large geographical area, the District staffs 7 strategically situated fire stations for emergency response. These are: the Toro Fire Station (1), the Chualar Fire Station (2), the Laureles Fire Station (3), the Carmel Valley Village Fire Station (4), the Mid-Carmel Valley Fire Station (5), the San Lucia Preserve Fire Station (6), and the East Garrison Fire Station (7). These are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with ALS capabilities. ALS (advanced life support) firefighters are able to deliver a higher standard of care during medical and traumatic emergencies, such as administering medications and life saving interventions.

Fire Chief David Sargenti oversees 70 employees with different ranks and roles within the District. To help accomplish this the District has an administrative staff consisting of a Deputy Fire Chief, 3 Division Chiefs, a Deputy Fire Marshal, a Fire Prevention Specialist, an HR Officer, a Finance Officer and an Office Administrator. Hopefully, you’ve encountered some of our administrative personnel during one of the many fire prevention presentations hosted throughout the District each year.

The fire stations are each staffed with a captain, an engineer and a firefighter. The captain holds the responsibility of the officer in charge of their fire station during their 48 hour shift. On the emergency scene, look for the red helmet. 

The engineer’s primary responsibility is the operation of our emergency vehicles. This includes maintenance and most importantly getting the firefighters to and from the emergency scene safely. Our engineers are also officers, meaning they may act as officer in charge in the absence of

their captain or when designated to do so. Although their helmets are the same color as the firefighters, they can usually be recognized by their fantastic mustaches. 

The firefighters are the boots on the ground ready to grab a rescue, “put the wet stuff on the red stuff,” and use the extrication tools to help an entrapped victim out of a mangled vehicle.

If you’re reading this article, most likely you live in the areas covered by the Toro Fire Station in Serra Village and the Laureles Fire Station at the bottom of the Laureles Grade. We respond and service the areas of River Rd. and the Highway 68 Corridor.

Captain Paramedic Josh Terry: “Calls involving children tend to be the hardest. As a father of small children myself, I deeply empathize with families experiencing what may be the worst day of their lives.”

Engineer Paramedic Marc Miller: “When we’re sleep-deprived. Responding to complex emergencies that require critical decision-making is difficult without adequate rest. However, we train extensively for these scenarios so that we can rely on our preparation and perform effectively even under those conditions.”

Firefighter Brandon Olivares: “From a personal experience, when I came in contact with a family during the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, asking if their house was still there. I had to tell them that it was gone. Situations such as those have been a difficult part of the job for me.”

Firefighter Adam Lewis: “Like all jobs, I’d say the more infrequent emergency calls can be the most difficult. Whether it’s cutting a hole in the roof of a building or creating a rope system to raise someone off of a cliff, these jobs are more challenging due to the fact we don’t do them every day. That’s why we take time to train on these skills so we’re prepared when the call comes in.”

Between responding to emergencies, your local firefighters also perform many other valuable services focused on protecting the people we serve. For instance, every year with our Cal Fire partners, MCRFD conduct wildland inspections. The engine companies focus on those homes and properties in the wildland/urban interface with the goal of creating a defensible space between your property and wildfire. With the River Fire and a few other 

recent fires fresh in the minds of our residents, we really appreciate your help in the program’s success.

For those seeking to obtain CPR certification, the District holds quarterly CPR classes taught by our firefighters. It’s a blended course of online instruction and skills verification. We often run into former students who were able to use their skills in an emergency setting and it’s very rewarding when it involves a positive outcome.

Some of the firefighter’s greatest experiences are interacting with the local youth. School fire drills, station tours, parades, our MCRFD Open Houses, everything. The engines are bright red, have lights and sirens that make a lot of noise. We love seeing big smiles on kids' faces and many fire service careers have begun at one of these events. Remember, every firefighter carries stickers in their pockets!

The Firefighter’s Local 2606 has also supported our local sports leagues and held a variety of community events as well.

Get Involved

As with many of California’s fire agencies, MCRFD is constantly looking for quality firefighters to increase and maintain staffing levels. Most of us grew up in the area and love serving the communities we grew up in. We do have a few firefighters who live right here in the District and some others who live in nearby communities. However, beautiful areas such as our's come with a high price tag. We’ve had to expand our hiring searches to include areas up to two hours away for quality candidates. Other firefighters have chosen to commute in order to accommodate their growing families. This limits the availability of firefighters to return to the stations for staffing when the large incidents occur or participate in off-duty events throughout the year. 

How can you help us? Join us! Participate in a ride-a-long, visit a fire station and ask about a career with MCRFD, and please visit our website to see what we have to offer.

We are currently offering a paramedic scholarship program that culminates in a full time position at MCRFD. The Monterey County Regional Fire District is a great organization working for a fantastic community.

Captioned on the Cover are L to R: Fire Chief David Sargenti; Office Administrator Karry Kuntz; Firefighter Brandon Olivares; Engineer/Paramedic Marc Miller; Firefighter Adam Lewis; Division Chief Justin Linquist; Captain Marc Silva; Captain/Paramedic Josh Terry. On top of the engine: Deputy Fire Marshal Rick Magno.