History

The Green Valley Fire District was officially formed by Pima County Board of Supervisors Resolution 1975-146 on December 1, 1975. The formation was a result of many years of hard work and the determination of several Green Valley residents. These key people recognized the need for a centralized source of knowledge, experience and funding to deliver quality emergency services to a growing retirement community with an average age that consistently hovers around 70 years of age.

The founding fathers of the District were Arthur Heilberg, George Breid and John Hayes who remained with the District from 1970 to its formation in 1975.  

They understood that fire districts were originally intended to bridge the gap between no services and a full fledged career fire department. For the initial provision of services the District contracted with the private fire company Rural Metro to provide manpower and equipment to deliver the services needed to support the growing population as well as increasingly busy interstate travel. Another resident, Walter McKinley, joined the District board in 1975 and remained at the helm as Chairman until 1991providing not only fire district leadership, but acted as a community leader setting standards for emergency response, safety and prevention. He was joined by fire inspector Frank Nugent in the mid-80’s and they both drove the District to meet those standards by requiring fire safety inspections and insisting on more Paramedics for the high number of medical calls in the area. 

From 1975 to 2001, Rural Metro Corporation provided contracted staff for fire and medical services. During that period, the District purchased all the property, apparatus and equipment to provide the highest level of services while investing in the District’s future. In 2001, the District decided to terminate the contract services and become a full-fledged, independent Fire District. The District then hired nearly all of the Rural Metro, Green Valley-assigned personnel (42) and went fully operational July 1, 2001.