Bostonia was a volunteer fire company from the mid twenties until its formation as a Fire District in 1948.  Equipment for the most part was provided by the Department of Forestry.  The first District owned engine was donated by the Bostonia Lumber Company and converted by the fire department in 1949. The District was primarily large agricultural parcels with single family homes. Staffing remained volunteer until the mid sixties, when personnel were hired to augment volunteers during the summer months.

In the late sixties staffing was increased and continued until a three person engine company was obtained.  Paramedic service became available in 1974 when County Service Area 69 was formed by the Lakeside, Santee, and Bostonia Fire Protection Districts. The Bostonia Fire District employed seventeen employees and ten reserves, staffing an engine and ambulance from one station.  The District serves approximately 10,000 residents with an average of 5-7 emergency responses a day. The District was a signatory to the Heartland Auto-Aid Agreement, a member agency of the Heartland Communications Facility Authority, and a contract agency to the Thomas Owen Heartland Training Facility.  The District was a signatory to the County and State Mutual-Aid Agreements.

Crest Fire Protection District History
Crest is located in a portion of the unincorporated areas of El Cajon, between the City of El Cajon and the Harbison Canyon / Alpine area.  The district is approximately 10 1/2 square miles and has a population of approximately 4500 residents.  The Crest Fire Protection District was formed in 1958. 

In the 1920's the Southern side of the District was primarily used for camping with numerous 50 ft. by 50 ft. lots with small cabins on them and was known as Suncrest. 

The North side if the District was made up of full time residents and was known as La Cresta. In 1958 the Fire station was built and was centered between both neighborhoods.  Staffing was composed of all volunteer staff.  The first paid-employee was hired in the 1960's. The Crest Fire District employed 7 people and had an additional 25 reserve firefighters to staff a fire engine and an ambulance.  A call volume of 300-350 emergencies were responded to yearly. The District was a signatory of the County, State and Federal Mutual-aid Agreements.

East County Fire Protection District History
The East County Fire Protection District was established on July 1, 1994, as the first non-contiguous Fire District in the State of California.  Located in an unincorporated area of eastern San Diego County and formed as a result of the merger of Crest Fire Protection District and the Bostonia Fire Protection District.

Operating out of two stations, the District serves an estimated 15,000 residents and covers nearly 12 square miles providing fire, emergency medical, and rescue services to it's citizens. 

The district is comprised of light to medium commercial/industrial, large multi-unit apartment and condominium projects and extensive residential urban /
wild land interface areas. 

The staff is comprised of a Fire Chief, an Administrative Assistant, six Captains, six Engineers,  three Temporary Firefighters and forty-five Reserve Firefighters.

BACK