‘Could save lives’: Fresno Fire gets bulletproof vests

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – In a move to enhance first responder safety, the City of Fresno has outfitted all Fresno Fire Department personnel with bulletproof vests and helmets.

City officials say the new protective gear marks a significant shift in how fire crews prepare for dangerous, high-risk calls. It’s part of a growing national trend to equip firefighters with the same level of ballistic protection long reserved for law enforcement.

“These vests are designed to be lightweight, durable,” Fresno Fire Chief Billy Alcorn said. “They’ll be deployed in any situation where our crews could face danger — from active shooters to civil unrest.”

The announcement was made on Wednesday at Fresno Fire Station 3, where Alcorn stood alongside Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fresno Police Chief Mindy Casto and Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi. 

Officials called the initiative a unified step forward for public safety.

“We’ve made an investment in public safety,” Alcorn said. “We’re equipping every apparatus with ballistic vests and helmets to respond to active shooters and hostile incidents.”

Karbassi emphasized the importance of giving crews peace of mind when responding to volatile situations.

“Providing ballistic protection helps first responders focus on saving lives — and gives peace of mind to themselves and their families,” Karbassi said.

Casto echoed that sentiment. 

“Quick response from Fresno firefighters is critical,” she said. “But they need the protective gear to do that safely.”

Dyer called the rollout of the new gear more than just policy — he described it as a moral obligation.

“Public safety isn’t just a priority, it is a promise,” Dyer said. “A promise to our citizens and to the men and women who wear uniforms, whether that be a police officer or a firefighter.”

The new vests and helmets are designed for rapid deployment and will be available to every team across the city — from frontline firefighters to battalion chiefs.

“There was a fear that, hey, you’re asking us to respond to dangerous calls — but we don’t have the right gear,” Alcorn said. “This closes that loop.”

Fresno currently operates 21 fire stations and employs 375 sworn firefighting positions. City officials confirmed the gear was funded through the city’s general fund.

City leaders say their decision was influenced, in part, by a tragic event in June, when two firefighters were killed and another injured in an ambush in Idaho. That incident, Karbassi said, raised serious concerns about firefighter safety in Fresno and prompted swift action.

“This gear could save lives,” he said.