Station 40 – PARKHILL
Parkhill Fire Station 40 is a prime example of the cooperative fire protection partnership between CAL FIRE and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department. Located east of Santa Margarita, Station 40 serves a high fire hazard area characterized by the close proximity of homes, critical infrastructure, and dense vegetation. This wildland-urban interface environment creates unique firefighting challenges and underscores the station’s vital role in protecting lives, property, and natural resources.
Station 40 provides emergency response coverage throughout the Parkhill area and responds on automatic aid to incidents within the community of Santa Margarita, as well as along the Highway 101 corridor between the Cuesta Grade and the City of Atascadero. Due to its strategic location and regional response responsibilities, Station 40 serves as an important resource for both local emergencies and countywide incidents.
Medic Engine 40 is staffed by a Fire Captain and a Fire Apparatus Engineer and is supported by a dedicated team of 15 Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs) who respond to incidents through a radio paging system. Together, career and paid-call personnel provide comprehensive emergency response services to the community and surrounding region.
During the declared fire season, Station 40 is home to Engines 3465 and 3477, both Type III four-wheel-drive wildland fire engines. Each apparatus is staffed by a Company Officer/Operator and two to three Firefighter I personnel. These specialized engines respond to many of the same emergencies as Medic Engine 40 while serving as frontline resources for vegetation fires throughout San Luis Obispo County. Their four-wheel-drive capability provides enhanced access to remote and rugged terrain, making them invaluable assets during wildland fire operations. Seasonal staffing for these engines typically begins in mid-May and continues through mid-November. During the off-season, the apparatus remain available for deployment as operational needs dictate.
Station 40 also serves as the headquarters for Battalion 4 and is home to Battalion Chief 3414. From this location, battalion leadership coordinates emergency response operations, personnel, and fire protection activities throughout the battalion, ensuring effective service delivery and regional coordination across a diverse response area.