At the March 14, 2013 Copper Fire Board meeting board member and citizen advisory committee member Steve Marks presented the board and the public with information about CalPia. CalPia is an inmate Employability Program which teaches inmates skills preparing them to obtain employment upon parole. One of the arms of the CalPia program is first defense wildland firefighting gear. All gear produced within the prisons meets or exceeds standards or flammability and CALFIRE specs, plus the cost is approximately 50% less than other fire gear sources. Chief Kovacs stated that Copper Fire already purchases much of its wildland gear through this system saving the District money.
Products produced through the CalPia program are only available state and local governments, schools, casinos as sovereign nations, but not available to the public.
Also discussed at the board meeting was the need for continued discussion with CalFire on unit services reimbursement for response to incidents.
The Fire Explorer program is up and running. The Gazette will interview Firefighter Brian Nolan about this program as soon as Brian is available.
Though no complaint had come across Chief Kovacs desk to date, a complaint was made to the Copper Gazette by a Copperopolis resident that a board member could potentially inhibit or control response to fire calls. When asked if this was so, Chief Kovacs responded, "Absolutely not."
The next Board meeting will be held April 11, 2013 at 6:30 pm.
