The year has not been kind to Vallejo’s police and fire departments.

Throughout the city’s bankruptcy process, the public safety departments have seen a steady decline in personnel across the board, including sworn officers and firefighters and support employees like dispatchers.

Perhaps the most dramatic loss came in February in what is termed by some as “The Valentine’s Day Massacre,” when 14 firefighters and seven police officers decided to retire en masse. The lost personnel were reportedly worried about losing retirement benefits.

The city will end 2008 with 114 sworn officers and about 65 firefighters.

While the specific effects of Vallejo’s lack of officers is so far unknown — the department has also lost its crime analysis person, and the responsibility has shifted — officers have had the impression of an increasing level of crime.

The fire department has also suffered cutbacks, necessitating the closure of two fire stations.

On Dec. 26, a fire destroyed the upper floor of a house a block from the shuttered fire station on Fifth Street.

However, the top fire story of the year is the Aug. 15 Casa de Vallejo fire, which ripped through the assisted living community, killing three people and displacing about 115.

The investigation concluded that the eight-alarm fire was likely caused by an elderly cigar smoker who either fell asleep or had a medical eposide, and a nearby oxygen tank ignited. The building’s fire horns were found to be disabled.

The fire department has also seen a reduction to its daily minimum staffing from 28 to 21 firefighters. Vallejo’s ladder company has been reduced from four firefighters to three.

The reduction prevents splitting up the ladder company with two firefighters inside a burning structure and two outside to cut ventilation holes.

Story by Times Herald / read entire article

Captain Frank Holden, known affectionately as “Mule” to fellow firefighters, began his career at the Long Beach Fire Department in 1968.

Throughout his 40 years in the department, he has been very involved in the community. LBFD Engineer Jess Seiffert, who also is retiring (after 32 years), said of Holden, “He’s an icon. He’s been around and been in everything — he’s just a legend.”

“It (retirement) will be an adjustment for me,” Holden admitted. “I like being on committees, getting involved and putting something back into it.”

Not only has Holden worked at nine different stations in Long Beach, including 13 years at one of the busiest stations in the city (Station 2 on Third Street, between Cherry and Walnut), he also designed the badges that the firefighters wear, serves as a liaison to the honorary firefighters, is on the union board, has volunteered while off duty to plan and coordinate the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, the firefighter picnics for current and retired firefighters, and was instrumental in starting LBFDKids. The mission of the LBFDKids program is to “enhance the lives and well being of the chronically ill children at Miller Children’s Hospital, through smiles and laughter.”

“Mike Garcia and I were doing a Make-A-Wish event in Cerritos and he asked me, ‘what do you think of visiting kids in the hospital?’ and I just thought that was a great idea,” Holden said. “It’s a really great program. You see the kids and realize how lucky you are that your kids are healthy.”

Ten years later, the program continues to gather off-duty Long Beach firefighters at Miller about six times a year, including a trick-or-treat Halloween party and Santa’s visit in December. On Friday, Dec. 19, Santa Claus — played by Holden — and about 30 other firefighters in uniform walked the halls of Miller’s delivering candy canes decorated like reindeer and small felt bags that held an activity book, a T-shirt, pencils, erasers and badge stickers. Numbered according to the rooms, the bags were customized with the correct-size shirt for each patient.

“What I will miss most is working with the guys,” Holden said. “We all have the same attitude. Even in a busy station like Station 2, you can do anything with the right group of guys. That’s why I stayed there so long.”

His current and last post is at Station 15 at the Port of Long Beach, on board the Fireboat Challenger, an 88-foot boat that patrols the port and can pump 10,000 gallons per minute through five power plants on board. Not any less stressful than a station on land, Holden said, “When there is a fire in the Port, it is major.”

“To any young person who was looking for a great career, don’t be discouraged by the competition to get in. They have to hire someone,” Holden said. “Get in there and work hard and if you get a reputation, get a good one.

“Before my retirement is official, I want my 17-year-old granddaughter to spend the night in the station — hopefully Station 2. I think she could be a great firefighter some day.”

Story by Individual.com /read entire story

Five people were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning this morning at a northwest Las Vegas condominium complex. Three of the five were taken to the hospital for treatment, one person was critical. Five pets also died during the same incident.

Las Vegas firefighters were called to the Chateau Versailles condo complex, 10550 W. Alexander Road (215/Alexander) at 9:18 a.m. for a report of a possible natural gas leak in the area. When firefighters arrived at the 16 unit two-story wood frame/stucco condo building, firefighters went to a second floor condo to check for the gas. A meter indicated the presence of carbon monoxide gas at lethal levels, so firefighters ordered the entire building evacuated.

As the building was being evacuated, firefighters went around the building trying to determine the source of the carbon monoxide. As they were checking, they found a garage door that was closed and appeared to be hot, and a meter detected carbon monoxide. Assuming there was a fire in the garage, firefighters starting searching units that were locked. In the first unit they checked, a middle-age woman was found unconscious in the bedroom of her unit. Also there were five small York Terrier dogs and three cats in the unit; they appeared lifeless. The woman was quickly rescued from the unit and transported to University Medical Center for treatment. Firefighters also retrieved the animals and were able to successfully resuscitate four of the five dogs using a special veterinarian oxygen mask that is carried on Las Vegas fire units.

Four other people were also treated by paramedics on scene for possible carbon monoxide poisoning. A mother and her child were also taken to the hospital to be checked out and two other people refused further treatment. A total of 11 people were evacuated from the building.

Firefighters believe the carbon monoxide came from a car that was running in one of the garages in the building. When firefighters got to the car, it was no longer running, but the ignition key was in the on position. They were not sure if the car stopped running because of the carbon monoxide or if it ran out of gas. Why the car was running in the garage in the first place is under investigation by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. The person they need to talk to about the incident is the woman who was hospitalized.

People were allowed to return to their condos after firefighters and Southwest Gas determined that no levels of any gas were in their units and it was safe to return.

A Sausalito man was able to escape a two-alarm blaze that destroyed a house early Thursday morning.

Neighbors reported the fire at 3:51 a.m. at 18 West Court and assisted the man and his dog in exiting the three-story residence. The man, the only occupant in the home, was taken to Marin General Hospital for treatment of burns and other injuries. He was later transferred to the Bothin Burn Center at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco.

Fire officials said the man, whose name was not released, awoke to find the house on fire. He was able to climb out of an upstairs window onto a deck area with his dog.

“He then threw his dog down to a neighbor and was able to climb down a ladder but was hurt in the process,” said Southern Marin Fire Chief Jim Irving.

He said it took about an hour for firefighting crews from Southern Marin, Marin County, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Corte Madera and Kentfield to contain the blaze, which they suspect started in the kitchen. Irving estimated damage at about $1 million.

“The home was completely destroyed,” Irving said, noting that the cause was still under investigation but had to be suspended Thursday “due to lack of structural integrity” of the gutted home.

“There was a partial collapse of the structure, but no firefighters were injured,” he said.

Story by Marin Independent Journal

A drunken driver struck a fire engine as it left a San Mateo station Christmas night badly damaging his own vehicle, authorities said Friday.

Police arrested 53-year-old Sione Tongamoa, of San Mateo, for driving under the influence at about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, San Mateo police Capt. Kevin Raffaelli said.

Tongamoa apparently drove his pick-up truck into the fire engine’s right front bumper when it pulled out of the station at South Humboldt Street between Third and Fourth avenues, said Mike Borean, a battalion chief with San Mateo Fire Department.

Firefighters, who were on an emergency elevator rescue call, followed department protocol and remained at the scene to determine whether Tongamoa sustained injuries, Borean said. The department dispatched a second engine for the original call.

No one was injured in the crash, according to Borean.

The crash “damaged our siren and dented the bumper, scratched the bumper up, a little bit,” Borean said, adding that “the whole driver’s front side of the pick-up truck was demolished.”

Story by Silicone Valley Mercury News

ELKO, Nev. — The snow may be falling now, but federal agencies are gearing up for next year’s fire season.

The Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs are accepting applications for summer seasonal firefighting and dispatching positions.

A job fair is planned at the Elko BLM office on Jan. 7.

Officials said applications must be received no later than Jan. 20 to receive first consideration for most positions.

Officials said selected applicants for primary firefighter positions must pass the “pack test” after entering on duty. This test consists of a 3-mile walk over flat terrain carrying a 45-pound pack in 45 minutes or less.

Story by KCRA News

A skier buried by an avalanche was found dead Christmas morning at a California ski resort, authorities said.

The 21-year-old victim was identified as Randall C. Davis of Tahoe City, California, according to a local coroner’s news statement.

The incident occurred at about 11 a.m. after Davis and a friend rode a ski lift at the Squaw Valley Ski Resort, the statement said.

Davis’ friend became concerned when the two got separated and alerted authorities that Davis was missing.

Frantic calls to 911 in the aftermath of a Rancho Cordova home explosion were released Thursday, detailing neighbors’ fright in the wake of the blast.

“The house blew up. The neighbor’s house is blowed up. My next-door neighbor’s house is blowed up. My windows are blowed out. We need you guys,” one caller shouted to an emergency dispatcher.

As she pressed him for directions, he told her: “You can’t miss it. There’s black smoke everywhere.”

The Christmas Eve explosion on Paiute Way leveled the home and heavily damaged surrounding homes.

Wilbert “Bill” Paana, 72, was transported to UC Davis Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.

Five other people who were hurt in the explosion include a firefighter, a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. worker, residents and a neighbor.

Kim Dickson, in her mid-40s, was in critical condition Thursday.

Sunny Dickson, 17, was transferred later Wednesday to nearby Shriners Hospital for Children; she was upgraded to stable condition.

Officials could not immediately say where the Dicksons and Paana were when the home exploded.

The National Transportation Safety Board will oversee an investigation into the blast. Jeff Smith, spokesman for PG&E, said the utility company wouldn’t do anything to the scene in Rancho Cordova until NTSB officials arrived Monday.

Fire officials estimated the structural damage to be about $700,000.

The affected homes have been cordoned off, but a voluntary evacuation issued Wednesday has been lifted.

“The area is considered safe at this time,” Smith said.

Fire investigators have not yet determined what ignited the flames.

“The cause is undetermined because of so many variables,” said Capt. Christian Pebbles with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District. “There are many possible sources — a light switch, a pilot light, static electricity.”

Story by KCRA News

Montebello firefighter Ruben Castillo picks out his Christmas tree with care: He asks the seller how often the trees are watered, and he runs his hands along one of the needle-filled branches. If the needles come away easily, the tree is too dry. If the branch has a nice strong grip on the needles, he takes it home, where it brightens up his family’s living room.

Fellow firefighter engineer Randy Sherrick agrees with this approach. “I get a little nervous around the holidays,” he says, keenly aware of the potential fire dangers of dry trees.

The fire station is never closed of course. At Christmas time, firefighters expect to be at their stations, on alert for static-filled messages from the radios they keep by their side at all times. It is not uncommon for them to rush to a scene only to see somebody’s Christmas decorations go down in flames or to witness tragedy on an otherwise cheerful day.

But it isn’t all vigilance for firefighters who keep watch while most people have the day off to gather with family.

For one thing, many of the firefighters’ families bring the party to them during the holidays. And because firefighters live at the fire stations during their shifts, which typically last 48 hours, each firefighter learns how to cook a dish or two well, making it a snap to put together a holiday meal.

On these occasions, the firefighters’ families have a chance to mingle over dishes like ham, roast, spaghetti, and tamales, while also making sure the kids running around the station don’t tear it apart.

Firefighter Frank Osorio says almost any occasion is an excuse to eat for them, and holidays are the best excuse of all. “It’s a feeding frenzy around here during the holidays,” he says.

As if knowing this, appreciative residents frequently donate food around this time, contributing to a mountainous pile on their kitchen counter. It’s more than even firefighters can eat, but it’s not for lack of trying, remarks one firefighter.

But not to give the wrong impression, paramedic Dan Yessman is quick to say that they’re also big on eating healthy and working out. No holiday bulge for these hardworking firefighters.

Probationary firefighter paramedic Aaron Cass says meal-time at the station serves the same role as meal-time at home. “Like with any family, it’s a time for us to wind down, communicate, and bond,” he says.
Of course, an emergency dispatch could always come in during one of these meals, at which point they drop everything to suit up and head on down to the scene.

Firefighters also have an active and visible role in community celebrations around Christmas time.
What better way to take Santa Claus to all his screaming, pint-sized fans than in a bright red fire truck or engine? And not a shift goes by without a visit from someone donating a gift to the department’s Toys For Tots Christmas program.

Story by EPG News / Read entire article

On Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 2:19 AM, 14 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 4 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Arson Unit, 1 Urban Search and Rescue Unit, 1 Rehab Unit, 1 Hazardous Materials Team, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 4 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, all under the direction of Battalion Chief John Miller responded to a Greater Alarm Structure Fire at 8037 Remmet Ave in West Hills/Chatsworth Lake/Canoga Park.

Firefighters arrived quickly to discover a large single-story commercial building with heavy fire and smoke showing. Firefighters used forcible entry tools to gain access to the interior of the structure. A well coordinated interior fire attack combined with ventilation efforts on the roof allowed firefighters to quickly gain the upper hand on the fire.

The fire was controlled in just twenty-three minutes and was confined to approximately one-quarter of the structure. The building, apparently being used as a pornography studio, suffered smoke and water damage estimated at $250,000 ($200,000 structure and $50,000 contents). There were no injuries reported and the cause of the early morning fire is under investigation.

Written by Ron Myers, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department