Message from Chief Henery
Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), the fire agency serving the City of Santa Ana. Our mission is to proudly serve the changing needs of our communities by providing exceptional emergency and support services. We pledge a commitment to preserving the quality of life of the communities we serve. Our motto is "In Service of Others."
My career with the fire service began in 1984 as a Reserve Firefighter with the Santa Ana Fire Department. I continued working my way through numerous assignments including Firefighter, Paramedic, Apparatus Operator, Captain, Training Officer, Public Information Officer, Hazardous Materials Specialist, Incident Command System & Technical Rescue Instructor and a member of the Urban Search & Rescue Team (CATF5). In 2006, I was promoted to serve as Battalion Chief. Throughout each role, my experience and knowledge of the City’s history, as well as my management skills have been extremely beneficial.
In 2012, the City Council decided to contract fire services with the OCFA. Although the patch changed, the commitment from the people that serve this community has not.
In March of 2019, I promoted to Division Chief and was selected to serve as the area fire chief here in Santa Ana. It is an honor and privilege to now serve as Division Chief for the City of Santa Ana.
As Division Chief, one of my goals is to continue strengthening relationships with residents through community programs and events. Additionally, our department welcomes opportunities to support City sponsored programs. We continue partnering with the Santa Ana Police Department to keep the city safe. Finally, we look forward to engaging with our local youth by introducing and involving them in programs such as the Fire Explorer Program.
While Santa Ana is one of the largest cities within the OCFA jurisdiction, you can rest assured that as OCFA Chief Fennessy says, "We are always ready to be there for you in your time of need - day or night - with compassion, professionalism, and respect".
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have.
Respectfully,
Jim Henery
Santa Ana Division Chief
Fun facts
- Number of babies delivered throughout career: 12
- Most memorable birthday celebration: While on duty, I had delivered a baby girl for a local family. A year later, I received a surprise visit from them to celebrate their baby girl’s first birthday.
- Favorite station within Santa Ana and why? Station 75 which was built in 1951. It houses a pumper, ladder truck, and our Fire Museum sharing the history of the Santa Ana Fire Department. It has three fire poles and is four stories high.
- Favorite cuisine: BBQ
- Favorite Santa Ana landmark: The Water Tower