Our History

Before the founding of the Rescue 1 Foundation in 1977, Moraga was very isolated from the ambulance services of Contra Costa County. Whenever an ambulance was required, a private company such as Pomeroy or Cadillac ambulance service had to be summoned. There were many time delays as these services were stationed in Walnut Creek and Concord. Moraga Fire Protection District had to rely on an outside source for medical help as did all other fire agencies in the county. Time was of the essence and, due to our location and remoteness, it too often took anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour to obtain help. The Moraga Fire Protection District (MFPD) had EMTs to provide on scene medical assistance, but when it came to transporting an ill or injured person, an ambulance was needed.

The Moraga Service League began a fund for the purchase of a “rescue van” to allow the EMT/Firefighters to provide better service and, if required, move a patient to a nearby hospital. At the same time the Fire Chief, Don Skinner and his staff were in communication with the State of California Health Services, County Medical Office, and John Muir Hospital with the goal of obtaining the ambulance contract for the District. This was the start of community efforts to begin the MFPD Rescue Service and was the forerunner of today’s Moraga Orinda Fire District’s paramedic ambulance service.

The Rescue 1 Foundation was actually established on May 14, 1977 as California’s first non-profit corporation to aid and support the new Moraga Fire Protection District’s rescue service. As a tribute to her late husband, Fire Commissioner Ray Devin, Marion Devin donated $1500 to the Fire District and suggested creating a mechanism to handle any donations to the Rescue Service. With other members of the community, and with Fire Chief Don Skinner acting as advisor, the Rescue 1 Foundation was officially incorporated and certified as a tax-exempt non-profit organization through the California Secretary of State on February 27th, 1978.

Rescue 1 Foundation has been assisting the community for 45 years and continues to provide support for our Fire District.

At the time the Rescue 1 Foundation was formed, the Moraga Assistant Fire Chief, John Cooper continued working with the State Health Department, Contra Costa County Emergency Medical office, and John Muir Hospital to determine how the Moraga Fire Protection District could take over and continue the EMS Ambulance contract in the District, including paramedic services. Just prior to this time, the District residents had voted overwhelmingly for a special tax to support a new paramedic service. The Moraga citizens continuing support of the fire service was an example of their willingness to ensure the community has the very best in Emergency Medical Services.

In the Fall of 1977, four MFPD firefighters/EMTs volunteered to attend a six-month paramedic training program at Stanford University Hospital. They graduated in the Spring of 1978. This training was paid for through the newly established Citizens for Ambulance and Rescue Emergency Service (CARES) .25 cent tax, a tax that was overwhelmingly approved by fire district residents.

In May of 1978, the former Moraga Fire Protection District commenced providing paramedic service. This was the first paramedic service provided by any fire district in the county. In 1978, Proposition 13 was approved and it overrode the previously established .25 cent tax approved by voters. 

In 1980, the Moraga Fire District Board of Commissioners was given approval by 88% of voters to levy a fire flow tax to support capital expenses including the new paramedic ambulance service. The Rescue 1 Foundation originally consisted of a nine-member Board of Directors. With the 1997 merger of the Moraga Fire Protection District and the Orinda Fire Protection District, the Rescue 1 Foundation Board of Directors was expanded to eleven members to accommodate representation of the Orinda community.

The sole function of the Rescue 1 Foundation Board is to receive citizen-donated funds and work with the Fire District in allocating these funds to purchase needed emergency medical equipment, fire and medical safety supplies, and training materials. This effort continues to provide MOFD with state of the art equipment and District residents with the finest service available.

In 1980, the first piece of equipment donated by the foundation was an Amp/Pak heart defibrillator/monitor to be used in the rescue ambulance. The cost of this life saving piece of equipment was $6200.  

Over the past years, the Rescue 1 Foundation has donated over $585,000 in equipment and supplies to the Fire District’s various programs. This has included advanced medical equipment, safety supplies, and educational material to enhance public safety.

The Rescue 1 Foundation does not actively solicit donations. The Foundation relies solely on unsolicited donations from citizens and their families who have been helped by MOFD firefighter/paramedics or who simply want to support MOFD through Rescue 1 Foundation.

The Rescue 1 Foundation participates in Fire District and other community activities, notably the 4th of July celebrations in both Moraga and Orinda as well as the Spring and Fall Fire District Open Houses.

The Rescue 1 Foundation was established to assist our Fire District obtaining and maintaining the finest emergency medical care for our community. Rescue 1 Foundation is committed to continuing its support of the Fire District Chief and staff in their efforts to maintain a safe and healthy community.