CFPD Firefighters - always training

Throughout the past two days, 10-15-14 and 10-16-14, the firefighters of Copperopolis Fire Protection District spent a few hours combining skill building and physical fitness together by practicing job related tasks and emergency incident activities.

Some skills included pulling hose, nozzle connections, raising ladders and pulling 145 pound dummies.  These skill building tasks allow firefighters to develop and enhance their skills as well as determine their current level of conditioning in what, at times, can be a very demanding vocation.

CFPD Open House

The Copperopolis Fire Protection District open house netted some young customers. One 9 year old now thinks she may want to be a firefighter.

The Open House was a Countywide event funded by the SAFER Grant - a grant for recruitment, retention and training of volunteers- held at most all Fire Departments for the public to learn more of what their local fire department has to offer, and also in hopes of enticing members of the community to become volunteers.

If you would like to volunteer, or have questions about volunteering, please call the Copperopolis Fire Protection District at 785-2393 or stop on by and visit.

 

Copper Fire firefighters visit Copper School

To keep with the spirit of Fire Prevention week, Copperopolis Fire protection district Captain Keith Cantrell, Paramedic Matt Sowell and firefighter Lance Gunter visited a kindergarten classroom at Copperopolis Elementary on Thursday October 9, 2014 to read a book about fire safety starring Clifford the Big Red Dog.

Copper Fire Open House - come learn about how you can volunteer

Copper Fire Open House - come learn about how you can volunteer

Copper Firefighters on KVGC news

Miss Amador and some of her Court delivering water and granola bars to the firefighters at the #SandFire. Photos courtesy of Dianne Bennett.

CFPD Engineer Paramedic Matt Sowell, Firefighter Ricky Molina and Firefighter Lance Gunter.

Copperopolis Fire Protection District press release re: Tyler Tafjen

Press Release

Copperopolis Fire Protection District

The members of the Copperopolis Fire Protection District would like to extend their deepest, heartfelt condolences to the Tafjen family for the unexpected loss of their son, Tyler.  The family has requested privacy during this difficult time and would like to thank family, friends and the community for the outpouring of support.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Angels Gun Club on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 5pm followed by a reception at 6pm.  The family has also requested casual attire for this event in honor of Tyler.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tyler Tafjen Trust at Umpqua Bank.

Fire alarm sounds at Town Square

At5:21 3-15-4 a tone came out for a posible fire at Town Square.
When emergency crews arrived on scene they witnessed the second floor sprinklers engaged with water coming down to the bottom floor.
An investigation is underway.

Copper Firefighters get a thanks from local cub scouts

In January local Cub Scout Pack 347 attended a tour and fire safety talk at our local fire station.

The scouts were taught fire safety. equipment use and all about what a firefighters job requires.

After the tour, the boys made a poster as a thank you and delivered it to the firemen on duty.

 Courtesy photos

Copper Fire memorial flag poles erected

Last weekend while we were all enjoying Prime Rib at the Old Corner or Crab at the Lions Club crab feed, the volunteer and paid staff of Copper Fire were erecting their memorial flag poles.

The idea, hatched by Engineer Nick Maness and Paramedic/Engineer Matt Sowell, was presented to the Volunteer Firefighter Association for funding in December. President Don Rollings said he felt it was a great idea.

So with funding available Maness purchased steel piping and proceeded to put his welding skills to use by creating two 250 pound steel flag poles with cleats, pulleys and a finished top made ready for a brass dome (yet to be delivered). Each pole is equiped with solar lights so that the flags will be lit at night.

Chili cook off helps Copper Fire

According to Isabel, event coordinator for Town Square, the annual Town Square Chili cook off event raised $5101 for the Copperopolis Volunteer Fire department. 

According to Volunteer Dept President Don Rollings the monies collected will be spent on new equipment and replacement of outdated equipment and supplies.

Copper Fire rolls out 'new' used Engine

Copper Fire rolled out their 'new' used engine January 5, 2014 after months of minor rehabilitation and modifications.

"Most modifications and rehab was done in house" said Chief Kovacs, "saving the Department money yet taking a bit more time."

CFPD received the engine in July 2013 and set about making and installing drawers, adding CFPD logos and decals, replacing some valves and some rehab to the water tank in the back. In addition to minor repairs a full mechanical check was completed and the engine is now operating and ready to go.

According to Kovacs there are still a few small items that need adjusting but "those will not take the Engine out of service."

Open House at Copper Fire slow but steady

A few families trickled in to Copper Fire on Main Street throughout the day on the first countywide Fire Department Open House. held 10-5-13.

The open house was held at 10 different volunteer and combination fire departments throughout the county in hopes of raising awareness for the need of new volunteers. As with many small communities in this current economy the fire departments rely heavily on volunteer staffing.

Each station had their equipment polished and ready for eager viewers and of course for the children.

If you would like more information on how to become a volunteer please stop by Copper Fire Station #1 on Main Street and talk with staff present.

Copper Fire balances budget

At the 9-26-13 CFPD Board meeting the 13/14 fiscal budget was adopted with a unanimous vote.
Chief Kovacs stated, "It is a balanced budget. We did not need to pull anything out of reserves."
Director John Maness stated, "This is the most transparent budget I've sen."
Though the budget was balanced, it left very little wiggle room. "We will not be hiring for years" stated Kovacs.
The Department currently has four full-time employees; Chief, Captain, Engineer/Paramedic and Engineer. It also employs 4 interns, 2 per shift.

Copperopolis Fire Chief Steve Kovacs appointed by Gov Brown to California State Board of Fire Services

Steve Kovacs, 46, of Murphys, has been appointed to the California State Board of Fire Services. Kovacs has been fire chief at the Copperopolis Fire Protection District since 2012, at the Murphys Fire Protection District since 2006 and owner of Professional Management Associates since 1989. He held multiple positions at the Ebbetts Pass Fire District from 1981 to 2012, including battalion chief, shift commander, captain, emergency medical services coordinator, engineer, firefighter and volunteer. Kovacs is a member of the Fire Districts Association of California. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Kovacs is a Republican.

Copper Fire trains for low angle rope rescue

On 9-13-13 Copper fire in conjunction with Sierra Conservation Center fire crew and CALFIRE trained for low angle rope rescue at the Lake Tulloch Bible Church hillside.
Low angle rope rescue involves ropes, anchors, rappelling and hauling devices (basket) and other specialized equipment to reach victims in precarious locations and safely recover them.

Copper Fire strike team home safe from Power fire

Copper Fire firefighters Jay Lange, Eric Bavaro and Doug Ungari are home safe from fighting the Tuolumne County Power fire, which currently stands at 1,070 acres and 97% contained.

Copper Fire sent out Engine 231 the morning of 8-7-13, with firefighters Jay Lange, Eric Bavaro and Doug Ungari to join with engines from Calaveras Consolidated, Murphys Fire and Altaville Fire Dept as a strike team to aid in the supression of the Power Fire in Tuolumne.

Welcome home!!!

CFPD clarifies shared service agreement with Murphys Fire

At the 7-11-13 CFPD Board meeting the the Board agreed to have Copper Fire chairman Maness and the chairman of the Murphys Fire Board meet and hammer out details of the contractual shared service agreement between the two fire districts.

Though LAFCO recently unanimously accepted recommendations of a consulting firm outlining mergers of fire districts, this service agreement does not include this.

The service agreement will be covering the responsibility of shared costs for the fire chief and clerical as well as touching on equipment use and shared volunteer personnel.

Copper Fire Strike team home from Carstens Fire

The fire fighting strike team sent from Copper Fire to fight the Carstens fire returned safely home late Friday afternoon.
The three man team from CFPD included: firefighter Guy Andress, firefighter Doug Ungari, Engineer Jay Lang and Chief Kovacs.
Kovacs was also the strike team leader for the five engine Calaveras County strike team. The five engine strike team was composed of engines from Copper, Central Fire, Murphys Fire, Calaveras Consolidated and Central Fire.
Thank you firefighters and welcome home.

Updated 6-26-13 to include Firefighter Guy Andress, our apologies for not including his name originally. Thank you Guy for your hard work and welcome home.

Kurtis Wainwright to Gradute County Fire Academy

18 year old Bret Harte Senior and Copperopolis resident Kurtis Wainwright has had the desire and drive to become a firefighter since he was a child.

A year ago he joined the ranks of the cadets at Copperopolis Fire Protection District and was enrolled in the Bret Harte Fire Tech class, all in the hopes of having an edge when it came time to head to college.

In the fall of 2012 CFPD Chief Kovacs approached him about the Spring 2013 county fire academy and soon thereafter he was approached by his Fire Tech instructor Chief Rosebrook of Altaville-Melones Fire Department to attend the academy. Kurtis was thrilled.