CAL FIRE, Who We Are

CAL FIRE Unit Chief Presents JAC Certificates

CAL FIRE San Bernardino Unit Chief Doug McKain presented two Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC) certificates Wednesday, March 16, 2011. The presentations were made to Fire Apparatus Engineer/Paramedic Grant Malinowski and Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan Acevedo. The afternoon ceremony was conducted at Highland Fire Station #3.

Pictured below are FAE/Paramedic Grant Malinowski and FF/Paramedic Ryan Acevedo with Chief McKain

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.

The BIG One Hits Japan

Early Friday, Japan time, a major 8.9 earthquake ripped through the Islands of Japan. The following tsunami increased the devastation many, many times. The extent of the damage is not yet reported.

As we get ready for the return of daylight saving time and being prepared to put new batteries in your smoke alarms, are you prepared for an earthquake? In California we face many natural dangers, fires, floods like we witnessed in the City of Highland this past Christmas, and of course earthquakes.

Today's quake in Japan is being called the seventh largest earthquake ever reported. As you see what has happened in Japan, CAL FIRE asks you to consider what you would do if that happened here.

For earthquake preparedness information go to http://www.calema.ca.gov/ or
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/index.shtm

Preparedness is the key to safety and survival. Take a lesson from Japan and don't wait. Plan now to survive later!

CAL FIRE Reminds Californians - Change Your Clocks, Change Your Batteries

Smoke alarms are such a common feature in homes across California that it is easy to take them for granted. Tragically, nearly two-thirds of residential fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms. To help reduce these loses, CAL FIRE and the Office of the State Fire Marshal want to remind all Californians to change the batteries in their smoke alarms when turning their clocks forward Saturday night in observance of Daylight Saving Time.

When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is usually because batteries are missing, disconnected or dead.

"Working smoke alarms greatly reduce the likelihood of residential fire-related fatalities by providing an early audible warning, alerting occupants and giving them an opportunity to safely escape," said Acting State Fire Marshal Tonya Hoover.

That's critical because 85 percent of all fire deaths occur in the home with the majority happening at night when most people are asleep. The truth of this sad statistic was born out early this month when a father and son died during an early morning fire that destroyed their Crestline home.

"Smoke alarms unquestionably help to save lives, but a smoke alarm can do nothing without a working battery inside of it" said Chief Ken Pimlott, acting Director of CAL FIRE. "Just a few minutes twice a year to change a battery can truly mean the difference between life and death."

CAL FIRE has the following tips on smoke alarms:

• Test smoke alarms once a month.


• Replace batteries in all smoke alarms twice a year.


• Don't "borrow" or remove batteries from smoke alarms even temporarily.


• Regularly vacuum or dust smoke alarms to keep them working properly.


• Replace smoke alarms every ten years.


• Don't paint over smoke alarms.


• Practice Family fire drills so everyone knows what to do if the smoke alarm goes off.

http://www.fire.ca.gov/communications/downloads/fact_sheets/SmokeAlarms.pdf

For more information visit the CAL FIRE web site at http://www.fire.ca.gov/

Letter of Appreciation from CHP to all CALFIRE for the assistance provided in the recent bus accident on Feb 21, 2011

Burn Program Returns to the Owens Valley

CAL FIRE's San Bernardino Unit is set to begin several vegetation management burns over the next few weeks in an area about two miles north of the community of Lone Pine in the Owens Valley. The reintroduction of vegetation management burn projects was considered necessary to reduce the abundant growth of decadent vegetation in the area.

Two projects, Lone Pine North and the Lone Pine Airport projects are under the direct control of CAL FIRE in cooperation with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP). Several other burn projects have been permitted by CAL FIRE but will be conducted by the DWP and some private land owners who lease land from the DWP. The projects conducted by the DWP and the private landowners will be controlled by them, however they will be working from a permit issued by CAL FIRE which sets the boundaries and conditions for their projects.

The CAL FIRE burn projects have strict guidelines that must be met before the vegetation is ignited. Additionally, every project area will have a control line around it in order to keep the fire within the intended project area. CAL FIRE is planning to burn some black line around parts of the Lone Pine North project areas this week.

The plan is to remove the excess vegetation helping to reduce the fire threat north of Lone Pine as well as improving the local watershed.

Compliments to Yucca Valley FS