Emergency: call 911. The Del Mar Fire Department's station is at 2200 Jimmy Durante Blvd., on the southeast corner of the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
- Not an emergency: Del Mar City Hall, 858-755-9313. After hours, the City's non-fire emergency line (public works) is 858-756-1126.
- Fire prevention (plan review, construction inspections, operational permits): (858) 720-2415.
- A free fire safety inspection of your home: the department offers them for residential property; ask through City Hall.
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The department
- Crew: nine full-time staff: three captains, three fire engineers and three firefighter/paramedics.
- Equipment: one front-line fire engine, one rescue unit and one reserve engine.
- Area: more than 2.5 square miles and 1,600 structures, nearly 5,000 full-time residents and more than 3 million visitors a year to the fairgrounds.
- Calls: fires, medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, rescues and hazardous materials. Del Mar also sends help to Solana Beach, Encinitas and parts of San Diego under mutual aid.
- Dispatch: 24 hours a day through the Rancho Santa Fe Regional Dispatch Agency.
- Prevention: inspections for hotels, motels, restaurants and new businesses, fire code review of commercial plans, and safety and disaster classes.
City of Del Mar, Fire Department.
Who runs it now
For years the City of Encinitas managed the Del Mar and Solana Beach fire departments under a shared agreement in place since 2009. Effective March 31, 2026, Encinitas left that agreement. On April 21, Del Mar's City Council approved a seven-member fire management team that oversees both the Del Mar and Solana Beach departments, and the two cities named Bret Davidson, a Deputy Fire Chief in Vista, chief of both departments effective May 18. Each city still runs and equips its own station and crew: nine in Del Mar, 18 in Solana Beach.
City of Del Mar news, April 24, 2026. (The department's own page still describes the older Encinitas arrangement.)
Selling a home? The defensible space inspection
If the home is in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, California Civil Code 1102.19 may require a defensible space inspection before escrow closes. In Del Mar:
- Request it with the City's online Real Estate Disclosure Inspection Request Form; the fee is $127, invoiced and paid before the inspection.
- Requests take 1 to 2 business days to process, and appointments are Monday to Thursday, so book soon after escrow opens.
- To cancel, give 24 hours' notice: (858) 977-2014 or weedabatement@delmar.ca.us.
- A passing inspection only documents the minimum defensible space at that moment; the City says it does not mean the home is safe from wildfire.
City of Del Mar, Fire Prevention. Is your home in a hazard zone? Del Mar fire hazard maps or our fire zone check.
Want a human to just do it?
- The inspection, booked: PJ fills out the request form with you and keeps the appointment on track before escrow. Family Assist, $30 an hour.
- Ready before the wind: AlertSanDiego and SDG&E alerts set up on your phone, and a walk around the yard with the City's defensible space list. Same rate.
- For a parent in Del Mar: the alerts, the go-bag and a check-in on red flag days. The parent plan, from $25 a month.
"It's about being nice and showing up." PJ, a real person in Cardiff and Solana Beach. He doesn't do the fire inspection or clear brush for pay: the Fire Department inspects and a licensed landscaper clears. Prices are set in one place and shown before anything starts.
Nearby: fire today in North County · power shutoff and heat · Del Mar parking · Del Mar surf and tides · Del Mar wildfire preparedness.
Sources: City of Del Mar, Fire Department, Fire Prevention and April 24, 2026 news. Checked November 6, 2026. Emergencies are always 911.
More local answers
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This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.
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Questions people ask
Where is the Del Mar Fire Department?
At 2200 Jimmy Durante Blvd., on the southeast corner of the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Emergencies: 911.
What is the Del Mar Fire Department non-emergency number?
The department's page lists only 911; for non-emergencies call Del Mar City Hall at 858-755-9313, or Fire Prevention at (858) 720-2415 for plans, permits and construction inspections.
Who is the Del Mar fire chief?
Bret Davidson, a Deputy Fire Chief in Vista, became chief of the Del Mar and Solana Beach fire departments effective May 18, 2026, the City of Del Mar announced.
Does Encinitas still run the Del Mar Fire Department?
No. Encinitas left the shared fire management agreement effective March 31, 2026. A fire management team approved by Del Mar in April oversees the Del Mar and Solana Beach departments; each city keeps its own station and crew.
How much is a defensible space inspection in Del Mar?
$127, invoiced and paid before the inspection, for a home sale in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Requests take 1 to 2 business days; appointments are Monday to Thursday.
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