Golder Ranch Fire District is an all-career fire district serving about 103,000 residents of Oro Valley, Catalina, SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch in northern Pima and southern Pinal County, Arizona. From 10 stations it covers about 244 square miles, plus a 413-square-mile ambulance service area. Every engine is staffed at the advanced life support (ALS) level, the district transports patients by ambulance, and its special operations crews handle hazmat and technical rescue calls. It holds CFAI and CAAS accreditation.
Non-emergency (district main line)
(520) 825-9001- 1600 E. Hanley Blvd, Oro Valley, AZ 85737, USA
- grfdaz.gov
- Email: not published (use the contact form on grfdaz.gov)
- Snake removal, smoke-alarm batteries: 311 (or main line, press 7)
- Office hours: not published
Personnel: 231 sworn members in the Fire Response Program and 328 full- and part-time employees in the FY2025-26 budget. The district's history page gives 238 square miles and "more than 300 employees"; the budget and strategic plan give about 244 square miles.
Services Offered
- Fire suppression and rescue; all-career since 2001 (founded as a volunteer service in 1977)
- Emergency medical services at the ALS (paramedic) level; Arizona DHS Premier Provider
- Ambulance transport under Certificate of Necessity #56, including 145 sq mi of unincorporated southern Pinal County
- Hazardous materials and technical rescue (special operations team, Station 377)
- Wildland firefighting (wildland team, Station 370)
- Community paramedic program (Station 379)
- Fire code, permits, inspections and plan review
- Community risk reduction: CPR classes, home safety and wildfire safety assessments, smoke alarms
Stations
| Station | Address | Phone | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 370 Catalina | 3835 E Golder Ranch Dr, Tucson, AZ 85739 | Not published | Engine, ambulance, wildland |
| 372 SaddleBrooke Preserve | 65462 E Catalina Hills Dr, Tucson, AZ 85739 | Not published | Engine |
| 373 SaddleBrooke | 63725 E SaddleBrooke Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85739 | Not published | Engine, ambulance |
| 374 Sun City | 1130 E Rancho Vistoso Blvd, Oro Valley, AZ 85755 | Not published | Engine, ambulance |
| 375 Rancho Vistoso | 12125 N Woodburne Ave, Oro Valley, AZ 85755 | Not published | Ladder, ambulance |
| 376 Lambert & La Cañada | 10475 N La Cañada Dr, Oro Valley, AZ 85737 | Not published | Engine, BLS ambulance |
| 377 Oracle & Linda Vista | 355 E Linda Vista Blvd, Oro Valley, AZ 85704 | Not published | Engine, ambulance, hazmat/TRT |
| 378 SaddleBrooke Ranch | 60891 E Arroyo Vista Dr, Oracle, AZ 85623 | Not published | Engine |
| 379 Shannon & Overton | 9310 N Shannon Rd, Tucson, AZ 85742 | Not published | Engine, reserve ambulance |
| 380 Magee | 1175 W Magee Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704 | Not published | Ladder, engine |
There is no Station 371. Stations 372, 373 and 378 are in Pinal County. Station 370's campus also houses administration, fleet maintenance and training. A new Station 378 opened in December 2025 (board minutes); the stations page still describes a temporary leased building, so confirm the address. Station phones are not published: use the main line.
Response Performance
The district's 2025 Community Risk Assessment – Standards of Cover update publishes 2024 response times at the 90th percentile (9 of 10 calls were this fast or faster), from call pickup to the first unit on scene, for low-risk medical calls:
| Zone | Turnout | Total response | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban (>2,500 people/sq mi) | 1:28 | 10:56 (n=4,529) | 9:00 |
| Suburban (1,001–2,500) | 1:37 | 10:45 (n=1,237) | 9:15 |
| Rural (1–1,000) | 1:29 | 11:47 (n=543) | 12:00 |
Alarm handling (call pickup to dispatch) took 2:36–2:45 at the 90th percentile in 2024. 911 calls are answered by a primary answering point such as the Pima County Sheriff and transferred to the City of Tucson for fire dispatch. In FY2025-26 the district met its fire turnout goal (1:30, 90% of the time); EMS turnout met the 1:15 goal 81% of the time.
Estimated Response Time
With 10 stations over about 244 square miles, the average station radius is r ≈ √(244 ÷ (10 × π)) ≈ 2.8 miles (4.5 km). The district averages about 420 residents per square mile: Oro Valley and Catalina are suburban, while SaddleBrooke Ranch and the desert and foothill edges are rural.
| Radius | Oro Valley, Catalina (suburban) | Outlying desert (rural) |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 5–8 min | 8–12 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 7–10 min | 10–14 min |
| 3–6 mi | 9–13 min | 12–18 min |
| > 6 mi | 13+ min | 18+ min |
Typical expectation: about 7–10 minutes after dispatch in most of the district. The published 2024 figures above, which also include call handling, are the better guide.
Estimated Fire Control Time
| Fire size | Example | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Brush patch, dumpster, small vehicle | 5–20 min |
| Medium | Room-and-contents, car fully involved | 15–45 min |
| Large | Whole house, commercial unit | 45–120 min |
| Major | Multi-alarm, industrial, large wildland fire | 2–12+ hours |
Apparatus & Equipment
Front-line units listed on the district's stations page:
- ALS engines
- 9
- Ladder trucks
- 2
- Ambulances
- 6
- Reserve ambulance
- 1
The full fleet, including reserves, brush units and the hazmat trailer, is not published. The budget funds a new ladder truck (ARPA grant) to replace a 2005 American LaFrance and a new water tender to replace a 2002 4,000-gallon tender, both due in FY2026.
- ALS EMS
- Ambulance transport
- Hazmat
- Technical rescue
- Wildland
- Community paramedic
Ratings & Accreditation
CPSE/CFAI accredited: Yes · CAAS (ambulance) accredited: Yes (years not published) · ISO PPC Class: Not published · Arizona DHS EMS Premier Provider.
Outdoor burning: Golder Ranch issues residential burn permits for vegetation waste in Oro Valley, Catalina and unincorporated Pima County; a fire inspector visits before you burn. In the Pinal County part (SaddleBrooke), get a Pinal County Air Quality permit first, (520) 866-6929, then apply to the district. No burning on Red Flag days or in winds over 10 mph. Burn questions: (520) 818-1017. Campfires and cooking fires need no permit.
Neighboring Fire Departments
- All fire departments in Pima County, Arizona
- All fire departments in Pinal County, Arizona
- Northwest Fire District — Marana, Casas Adobes (west and south)
- Oracle Fire District — Oracle, Pinal County (north)
- Mount Lemmon Fire District — Santa Catalina Mountains (east)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for Golder Ranch Fire District?
(520) 825-9001, the district's main line. For snake removal or smoke-alarm batteries, dial 311. In an emergency, always call 911.
Which areas does Golder Ranch Fire District cover?
Oro Valley, Catalina, SaddleBrooke, SaddleBrooke Ranch, nearby unincorporated Pima and Pinal County and a small part of Marana: about 244 square miles and 103,122 residents, from 10 stations.
How fast does Golder Ranch Fire respond?
In 2024, 90% of low-risk medical calls were reached within 10:56 in urban areas, 10:45 in suburban areas and 11:47 in rural areas, counted from call pickup to the first unit on scene.
Is Golder Ranch Fire District accredited?
Yes. It is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) and the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). Its ISO class is not published.
Do I need a burn permit in Golder Ranch Fire District?
Yes, for burning vegetation waste. Apply to the district, which inspects the site first; in the Pinal County part, get a Pinal County Air Quality permit first. Burn questions: (520) 818-1017.
Last verified:
- Golder Ranch Fire District — Fire Stations (addresses, units)
- Golder Ranch Fire District — About (contact, leadership)
- Golder Ranch Fire District — Our History (residents, CON #56, CFAI/CAAS, mergers)
- Golder Ranch Fire District — Strategic Guidance (244 sq mi, 10 stations)
- Community Risk Assessment – Standards of Cover, 2025 Update (2024 response times, goals)
- Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget (population, sworn and total staff, apparatus purchases)
- 2026-2027 Strategic Plan Progress Update (turnout results, Premier Provider, dispatch)
- Governing Board minutes, December 16, 2025 (Station 378 opening)
- Golder Ranch Fire District — Burn Permit Application
- U.S. Fire Administration — National Fire Department Registry (FDID 11081, retrieved October 12, 2026)