The Garden Valley Fire Protection District is a combination volunteer/career fire district located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in El Dorado County, California. Our Response area is approximately 50 miles northeast of Sacramento and 60 miles west of Lake Tahoe. The district contains a rich natural environment ranging from grassy oak woodlands to pine covered mountain ridges. Situated between two major watersheds, the middle and south forks of the American River.

The district provides fire, rescue, and non-transport ALS medical response to a 60 square mile area with a population of 8100 people. We operate 3 stations, 1 staffed and 2 volunteer. The current staffing level of the district is one Captain and one Chief officer 24/7, supplemented with volunteer response. Garden Valley Fire Protection District operates a fleet of 2 engines, 1 water tender, 1 type 6 engine, and 5 command/utility vehicles. We provide first due response, automatic aid, and mutual aid to the Georgetown Fire Protection District, the US Forest Service-El Dorado National Forest, Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit, El Dorado County Fire, and Mosquito Fire Protection District.

Our 160 annual calls for automatic and mutual aid cover over 400 square miles and a population of more than 25,000 people. The district also has rich historical importance. Initially named Johnstown in honor of the sailor who discovered gold here during the California Gold Rush. The district’s southern border overlooks historic Coloma Gold Discovery Park, where John Sutter Discovered gold in 1848, which sparked the California Gold Rush. Our unique combination of natural beauty, historic landmarks, and resources make this community worth protecting.