Partnership strengthens preparedness and coordination among local first responders
Fairfield, CA (March 17, 2026) – Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) has donated a retired school bus from its Transportation Department to the Fairfield Fire Department to support critical emergency response training. The bus was delivered to Fire Station 41 on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, where it will be used to help first responders practice real-world rescue scenarios.
The donated bus will serve as a hands-on training tool for firefighters and other first responders. Planned training exercises potentially include safely evacuating passengers during emergencies, learning how to gain rapid entry to a school bus, removing injured patients, and practicing rapid triage of passengers during large-scale incidents. The bus may also be used by the Fairfield Police Department for related emergency response training.
“This partnership helps ensure that our first responders are as prepared as possible to respond to emergencies involving school transportation,” said Marcela Arizpuro, Director of Transportation for FSUSD. “By providing a real bus for training, we’re helping firefighters and law enforcement practice the exact scenarios they may encounter, which ultimately supports the safety of our students and community.”
“The safety of our students is always a top priority,” said Jennifer Sachs, FSUSD Superintendent. “This donation reflects a shared commitment to preparedness and collaboration amongst local agencies, and we are proud to partner with our local first responders to support training that helps keep our community safe.”
“Having access to an actual school bus for training exercises allows our firefighters to train in realistic conditions,” said Jessica Fleshman, Battalion Chief with the Fairfield Fire Department. “It gives our crews the opportunity to practice evacuation procedures, patient removal, and coordinated rescue operations so they can respond quickly and effectively if an emergency occurs.”
“This donation is a great example of how strong community partnerships improve public safety,” added John Sturdee, Fire Chief of the Fairfield Fire Department. “The more realistic our training environment, the better prepared our firefighters will be to protect and serve the community.”
The bus will remain stationed at Fire Station 41 and will be incorporated into ongoing training exercises for local first responders.