The Fire District covers an area of approximately 26 square miles. When the fire whistle blows, they answer the call. Firefighters leave meals half-eaten, jump out of bed in the middle of the night, rush out of parties or meetings or whatever activity they happen to be involved in when the fire siren sounds. This training, along with the Department's well-maintained equipment, allows it to pass the California Fire Insurance Underwriters test with high marks year after year, as good as many paid fire departments elsewhere, and that translates into low fire insurance rates for the people who own property in the Fortuna Fire District. The Department participates in nearly every community event in Fortuna.
Firefighters volunteer to put up and take down event banners and seasonal decorations.
They enter fire trucks in parades and offer free rides on their antique fire engine. During rodeo week they organize water games for kids, as well as entertaining a crowd with a bit of friendly competition among themselves. Everything they do is without pay. They put in the time and raise the funds themselves for what is needed. Funds the city would have to spend on salaries for paid firefighters are saved, to be used on other projects.