Unit Chief Presents J.A.C. Certificates

CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit Chief Tim McClelland presented three Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC) certificates today, Tuesday, March 26, 2012. The presentations were made during the Continuing Professional Training class being held at Headquarters. the certificates were presented to Tom Burrascano, Michael Watanabe and Randy Pritchard.

Pictured below are Tom Burrascano, Michael Watanabe, and Randy Pritchard with Chief McClelland.

The apprenticeship training program consists of academy training followed by specific instruction that relates to and supplements what was taught in the academy. The program provides true-life experiences through on the job training. CAL FIRE has three year apprenticeship programs for the classifications of Fire Fighter II and Fire Apparatus Engineer.

SRA Burn Suspension Lifted in San Bernardino County

San Bernardino – Officials from the San Bernardino Unit of CAL FIRE have lifted the special burn suspension in San Bernardino County effective 6 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2012. Fire Prevention Battalion Chief Preston Fouts says “outdoor burning will once again be allowed until weather conditions require the burn suspension to be re-instituted.” According to Chief Fouts, each request for a burn permit will be accompanied with a physical inspection of the property. There will also be special instructions placed on the permits such as; extra clearance, making sure that there is a charged water source immediately available and tools are at hand. “While there is always the possibility of wildland fire, we want to allow residents in those areas that are able to burn to do so and thereby reduce any dead cut and piled vegetation that can become a fire hazard in itself. With the personal inspections prior to the issuance of the burn permit and cooperating weather, we feel confident that with the property owners as partners in prevention with CAL FIRE, we can reduce some of the current fire potential” said Unit Chief Tim McClelland.

The special restrictions that remain in San Bernardino County regarding open fires include:

1. Use of campfires is restricted to within established campfire facilities located in established campgrounds open to the public.

2. Cooking fires with a valid permit are permissive when no alternate means of cooking is available and requires an on-site inspection prior to the issuance of a permit.

3. Warming fires with a valid permit are permissive and require an on-site inspection prior to the issuance of a permit when weather conditions exist to justify the request.

4. Burn permits issued to property owners for their parcels will have been inspected to ensure adequate clearance and prevention guidelines to reduce the risk of uncontrolled fires.

5. Project burn permits will continue to be reviewed as set forth by the Unit and local CAL FIRE Chief Officer in that area.

It is important for every property owner to maintain their 100 foot clearance (or to the property line) of their properties. To find out more about how to fire safe your homes and property you can contact your local fire department, CAL FIRE or go to the CAL FIRE web site at www.fire.ca.gov or www.readyforwildfire.org

Spring Forward Into Fire Safety

It’s that time again, time to spring forward into daylight savings time. This Sunday, March 11, 2012 will be the time to set your clocks forward one hour. It is also time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. It may seem like a bother, but it is one of the most cost effective forms of life safety insurance that you can have. On March 3^rd of this year, two adults and two children died in an early morning house fire in Ohio. Fire investigators were quoted as saying “No working smoke detectors were found.”

Did you know that 96% of the homes in the United States have smoke detectors but that in 23% of these homes the smoke detectors don’t work, primarily because of missing or dead batteries. Here in California, we have all witnessed the incredible wildland fires and extreme flames that sometimes reach to more than 200 feet in height. Yet as dangerous and deadly as these fires can be, 83% of civilian fire fatalities in the United States happen in home fires. Fires are one of the leading causes of death for children and the majority of those killed die in home fires. The peak hours for deadly home fires are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when people are most vulnerable. The deadly fire last week in Ohio occurred at 3:30 a.m.

Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and California Law requires homeowners to install carbon monoxide detectors in every California home. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is produced from heaters, fireplaces, furnaces and many types of appliances and cooking devices.

CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit Chief Tim McClelland says “for the cost of a few batteries, you can protect your family from the dangers of fire and carbon monoxide. It’s an investment in safety, it’s an investment in life.”

For more information about smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors you can go to www.fire.ca.gov. or http://www.nfpa.org.