Calaveras County Fire Chiefs Association Is Awarded a $1.88 Million Grant To Recruit New Volunteer Firefighters

CALAVERAS COUNTY, California – Throughout Calaveras County, citizens are at risk because of the lack of volunteer firefighters to adequately protect people and property from fire and fire–related hazards. As call volume increases, more departments depend on volunteer firefighters. Calaveras County’s 11 departments serve a rural area of 45,578 people and provide fire protection and rescue service to 1,020 square miles of rural area. Our 11 volunteer agencies respond to structure fires, wild land fires, medical emergencies, water rescue, technical rope rescue, hazardous materials spills, public service assistance calls and other emergencies. The Calaveras County Fire Agencies protects an area that is 66% rural wild land, 21% residential and 3% commercial.

CFPD RIC Training

On June 7, 2012 CFPD held a RIC (rapid intervention crew) training at two abandoned properties made available by Castle & Cooke for SWAT and fire training. The training is specifically designed for the possibility of a firefighter having to rescue one of their own or having to be rescued themselves. The RIC teams train, just for this potential situation.

The RIC team is a team of two or more firefighters dedicated solely to search and rescue of other firefighters in distress.The standards are the result of a series of incidents where fire fighters became lost, trapped, or disoriented while fighting a structure fire without a RIC team present. CFPD trains all personnel, paid and volunteer, in rescue duties following a standard two-in-two-out rule, where two teams of two firefighters responding to a fire will assume either fire suppression of rescue duties. Since CFPD is a small department the scenario would be similar to :Team A enters while team B is held at the entry point. When team A emerges, team B enters making team A now the rescue crew.
However larger departments rarely utilize firefighters that have exhausted their self contained breathing apparatus fighting a fire as a RIC team, due to the exhaustion factor.

 For more pictures CLICK HERE

Copper Volunteer Firefighters prepare for Wildland Fire Season

CFPD Volunteer firefighters along with a few Altaville-Melones volunteer firefighters underwent a required and strenuous  day of wild land fire re-certification April 28, 2012.

Half of the day was spent in a classroom setting covering all aspects of fire behavior,

Review of last year's fire season, Assessment of this year's fire potential, Heat Injury Identification and Prevention, Wildland Fire Safety, Wildland Fire Behavior, Fireline Hazards, Fire Shelter Use.

The afternoon was spent on field skills such a: Fire Shelter Deployment, Water Tender Operations, Wildland Hoselays, and Mobile Attack Operations.

progressive hose lays, mobile attack, fire shelter deployment, etc.

This year, California has experienced below-average rainfall across the State. This lack of rain has caused California's green grass and vegetation to dry out earlier than expected. When combined with this summer's high temperatures, the dry vegetation will pose an increasing threat for fire danger. It only takes one little spark to ignite a wildfire.

More than 100 large fires have swept across parts of the nation already this year, and the head of the U.S. Forest Service says the rest of the 2012 fire season is expected to be just as active as last year's, which saw big wildfires on hundreds of square miles in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and elsewhere.

Do your part to be fire safe this season visit  http://www.readyforwildfire.org/

For more training pictures click HERE.
 If you are interested in becoming a volunteer visit Station #1 on Main Street to pick up and application.

This article was updated 5-2-12 at 2:45 pm.

Copper Fire Volunteer Association thanks Umqua Bank, Primos Pizzeria and Payless IGA for their support

Throughout 2011 Umpqua Bank, Primo's Pizzeria and Payless IGA have continuously supported the Copperopolis Volunteer Firefighter Association - helping with donations of food, raffle prizes, and ongoing community support. In order to show their appreciation the Association presented those businesses with plaques recognizing and thanking them for their support.

 

Iris Larson - Umpqua Bank Copperopolis Store Manager

 

Doug Drayton - Owner Primo's Pizzeria

 Tammy Andrada - Store Manager and Kevin Young - Owner Payless IGA

Eric Bavaro joins CFPD Volunteers

18 year old Eric Bavaro has always wanted to work in a field that would help others. He had one stipulation to that desire, he would also like an "adrenalin rush" with the job. Firefighter naturally came to mind.

Eric spent time as an explorer with the Ceres Fire Department while in high school and then enrolled in Columbia College to take more fire fighting courses.

When he learned of the need at Copper Fire for volunteer firefighters he visited the Chief and asked where he could sign up.

He quickly found himself enrolled in the Calaveras County Volunteer Fire Academy. He has found the first responder portion of the academy challengeing but says he like sto challenge himself "to reach higher goals." His family is very supportive of his desire to become a firefighter. After the academy he hopes to land an intern position, but if not is still planning on volunteering.

Alma Orozco - newest addition to CFPD volunteers

21 year old Copperopolis resident Alma Orozco knew from a young age that she wanted to be in the health care field at some level. Though growing up she planned on nursing, she felt it lacked the excitement she was seeking. She turned her sights to Paramedic and has been working toward her EMT at Columbia College.

Commuting through downtown Copper each day on her way to school she watched as Firefighters readied their vehicles and Paramedics began their day; she decided one day to ask if there was any way she could use her experience while gaining more to help CFPD.

Alma said that Chief Millar jumped at the chance and enrolled her in the Calaveras County Volunteer Fire Academy. In the Academy Alma will learn medical aid and the fire fighting skills necessary to become a volunteer firefighter.