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Cottonwood firefighter struck, killed on I-5
The Record Searchlight
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 The town of Cottonwood is grieving after one of its own was killed on the morning of Feb. 28. Capt. Mark Ratledge, 35, of the Cottonwood Fire Protection District, died, and a California Highway Patrol officer and another person were injured after being hit by a pickup that slid off a hail-covered Interstate 5. Ratledge is the first Cottonwood firefighter to be killed in the line of duty, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Linda Galvan said.
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Glendale, Ariz., paramedics use CCR, HALO to save 1 of their own
Fire Chief
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Quick action by two off-duty Arizona paramedics saved the life of one of their own colleagues last month from sudden cardiac arrest by implementing two of Glendale Fire Department’s recent innovative programs — CCC-CCR and HALO. The friends were returning from a ski trip when fire engineer Michael Patten collapsed and became unresponsive. Firefighter/paramedic T.J. Drescher and Southwest Ambulance paramedic Ian Winterstein immediately began chest-compression cardio-cerebral resuscitation and called Phoenix Fire Department alarm dispatch for air transport. Helicopter Air-Medical and Logistics Operations 151 responded and transported Patten to West Valley Hospital, where he received further treatment.
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West Covina Fire Department implements new technology to save lives
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
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The West Covina Fire Department has launched a pilot program that uses new technology to improve the survival rates of patients in cardiac arrest. The Fire Department is partnering with UCLA, UC San Diego and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services to conduct an Advanced Resuscitation Training pilot program for its 57 firefighter/paramedics and first-responders. The program integrates the use of See-Thru CPR technology with a Zoll cardiac monitor, which reduces the need to stop compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and increases survival rates by showing the heart rhythm on the machine's screen.
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Fire Investigation 1A class slated for March 12 in Diamond Springs
CSFA
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Retired grand master of the Arson and Bomb division of CALFIRE, Joe Konefal is teaching a Fire Investigation 1A (Fire Investigation Origin and Cause) class March 12-16 at Diamond Springs Fire Station 49 (501 Main Street, Diamond Springs). The cost is $295 and includes CA State Fire training fees, manual and handouts. This class applies to Fire Officer Certification.
The class, to be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. provides skills to successfully investigate a fire and an explosion for origin and cause. Topics include the scientific method, fire dynamics, arson laws, search and seizure, point of origin determination, ignition factors, fire causes, electrical issues, documentation, expert testimony, incendiary indicators, incendiary devices, vehicle fire investigations, wildland fire investigations, structure fire investigation and explosion investigation.
To register contact Joe Konefal at 530-647-6059 or jkonefal@pacbell.net.
Retirement issues: CalPERS delivers analysis of pension reform proposals
CalPERS
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CalPERS has issued a comparative analysis of pension reform proposals; one outlined by Gov. Jerry Brown and two others planned for the 2012 California ballot. Components of Gov. Brown's pension reform proposal, Twelve Point Pension Reform Plan, were compared with two other proposals currently in the signature-gathering phase — the Government Employee Pension Reform Act of 2012, Options 1 and 2. Plan components such as funding, benefit eligibility limits and plan design were compared for those proposals affecting new employees. Funding and plan design were compared for proposals affecting existing members, and other relevant components were compared for proposals affecting all employees and retirement boards. CalPERS pointed out where components of the proposals could be in conflict with legal vested rights for employees.
The Comparative Analysis can be accessed via the CalPERS website at http://www.calpers.ca.gov/eip-docs/benefit-reform-proposal.pdf
CSFA hosts free recruitment and retention workshop March 17 and 18 in Sacramento
CSFA
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Fire service leaders and community leaders are encouraged to attend this R&R workshop March 17-18 at the Capital Plaza Holiday Inn in Sacramento. There is no cost to attend. Travel, two nights lodging and two days per diem for attendees will be reimbursed upon completion of the workshop. The R&R Workshop is desinged to facilitate open discussion about local volunteer firefighter retention and recruitment issues.
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Santa Barbara Fire Bureau to apply new federal grant
Daily Nexus
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The Santa Barbara City Fire Dept. received a federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security to install diesel exhaust filtration systems and improve labor conditions in local firehouses. In a press release, Congresswoman Lois Capps announced that the SBCFD has been allocated $193,000 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The City of Santa Barbara will match 20 percent of this figure and install new diesel exhaust-removal systems in all of the city's firehouses to protect firefighters from hazardous vehicle-exhaust fumes and particle emissions. Administrative Services Manager for the SBCFD Ronald Liechti said the funding will allow the stations to maintain as safe an environment as possible for their employees.
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Dry Creek tribe plans own fire department
The Press Democrat
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For almost a decade since River Rock Casino first opened, the tribe that runs it has relied on the Geyserville fire department to respond to emergencies. But the fire department is four miles away along winding Highway 128; hardly an ideal arrangement for responding to life-and-death situations. As a result, the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians is planning to establish its own fire department to handle calls at the hilltop casino and surrounding reservation. But not everyone is convinced how well it will work, including Geyserville fire officials.
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Return to duty: Injured firefighter says experience changes perspective on patient care
Santa Cruz Sentinel via The Mercury News
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When he resumes his duties as a firefighter and paramedic in early April, Chris Stubendorff will bring with him a perspective on patient care that could only be gained from first-hand experience. As an employee of the Scotts Valley Fire District, Stubendorff, 38, had been extricating patients from the wreckage of vehicles for more than a decade, but had never experienced that level of helplessness himself. That changed in 2010, when he had his own brush with death.
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Dramatic image captures California firefighters at ocean's edge
U.S. Department of Agriculture (blog)
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Along Monterey's Big Sur coast in California, the job of responding to "fire starts" rests on the shoulders of Los Padres National Forest firefighters and their partners at the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade. Monterey County doesn't have a fire department. When a coastal landowner's pile burn project went awry Feb. 7, firefighters from the forest and volunteer fire brigade led the initial attack that quashed what became known as the Alder fire at less than five acres.
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Fire chief calls application 'Plan B' in attempt to cover Station No. 5
Santa Maria Times
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The Santa Maria Fire Department last week embarked on what Fire Chief Dan Orr is calling "Plan B" when it comes to staffing Station No. 5, which is due to be complete this summer. The chief, along with the help of Capt. Jim Clayton, is applying for a SAFER grant — Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response — from the Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grant could net $1.6 million, which is very close to the $1.7 million the city estimated it would take to hire the nine additional firefighters needed to staff the new station.
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San Francisco firefighters cling to wooden ladders
Los Angeles Times
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Only two dozen or so fire departments in America still swear by wooden ladders for their strength, safety and durability. Most are in California, and all but one buy their climbing gear from a company in Chino. The lone holdout is San Francisco, which still manufactures its own. The department's 400 or so ground ladders are made of old-growth Douglas fir, harvested from eastern slopes in the Pacific Northwest, where limited light makes the wood grow dense and strong. All of them have been built or refurbished by a three-man crew with singular skills.
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Split board continues work toward reforming fire department
Half Moon Bay Review
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Opposing views of what's best for the Coastside Fire Protection District came to the surface again during a recent meeting to discuss a timeline for creating a brand-new fire department. While there is no consensus on the need for a new department to replace a CalFire contract, there was clarity on how long such a change would take. On Feb. 22, the board heard a report from a consulting firm that indicated it would take a year to set up a fully staffed department. Coastside Fire Protection District board member Gary Burke says he has heard from constituents who say, "If it's not broken, don't fix it." Director Mike Alifano said it's not a matter of fixing something that is broken. The board must do its due diligence and compare CalFire to other options, he contended.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
| Date |
Event |
More Information |
| March 12-16 |
California Fire & Police Winter Olympics, Mammoth Lakes |
www.firepolicewintercolympics.com |
| March 12-16 |
Fire Investigation 1A, Diamond Springs FD (El Dorado County) |
Contact Joe Konefal at jkonefal@pacbell.net or call 530-647-6059 |
| March 17-18 |
CSFA Rural Fire Leadership Retention and Recruitment Workshop, Sacramento |
Visit www.csfa.net or call Kate at 855-VOL-FIRE |
| April 2-6 |
California Fire Mechanics Academy, McClellan Business Park, Sacramento |
www.cafiremech.com |
| April 16-21 |
Fire Department Instructor’s Conference, Indianapolis |
www.fdic.com |
| April 21 |
&th Annual Daly City (San Mateo County) Firefighters Poker Tournament to benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation |
Visit www.dalycityfirefighters.com or contact mpetersen@dalycity.org |
| April 21-22 |
CSFA Rural Fire Leadership Retention and Recruitment Workshop, Redding |
Visit www.csfa.net or call Kate at 855-VOL-FIRE |
| May 18-25 |
Firefighters Alaska Cruise |
For more information call 800-795-1008 or visit seacruises.com/csfa |
| May 19-20 |
CSFA Rural Fire Leadership Retention and Recruitment Workshop, Graeagle |
Visit www.csfa.net or call Kate at 855-VOL-FIRE |
| May 21-24 |
CFED West, Palm Springs |
www.cfedwest.com |
| June 4-8 |
Investigation 1A: Fire Origin and Cause Determination, San Carlos |
Call 650-508-9008 |
| June 23 |
Annual Mt. Baldy FD Steak Fry and Raffle, Mt. Baldy Village (San Bernardino County) |
www.mtbaldyfire.com |
| July 15-20 |
California Firefighters Summer Olympics, Palo Alto |
firefighterolympics.org |
| Sept. 4-7 |
Haz Mat Continuing Challenge, Sacramento |
hazmat.org |
| Oct. 23-25 |
Fire Shows, Reno, NV |
fireshowsreno.com |
To have your event listed here, send details to ggiacomo@csfa.net
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