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F E B RUARY MO N T H LY R EPO RT
Transcript of F E B RUARY MO N T H LY R EPO RT
Visalia Fire Department
F E B R U A R Y M O N T H L Y R E P O R T
February has been an anomaly in that weather patterns have
shifted back to high pressure and produced little moisture,
but the El Niño pattern is still prevalent. This weather has
allowed for the new Fire Station 53 site to dry out and final
site grading, concrete and landscaping is now in progress.
The station should be substantially complete by early March
and ready for a soft opening in mid-March. Obviously, it
can’t finish soon enough and getting operational is our goal.
We hope to have a formal ribbon cutting towards the end of
March or first week in April.
Other projects of note for February:
Budget preparation is ongoing and finance is moving the process forward. We have met all estab-
lished deadlines to date.
The 2015 Annual Report has been completed and published. Over all it was a great year for VFD.
All backgrounds have been completed on our fire candidates and we are moving forward with six re-
cruits. The academy is scheduled to start in mid-March.
Training for the month was a joint class and exercise with VPD on Active Shooter. VPD staff did an
excellent job with preparation and instruction. Unfortunately, this class deals with the new reality of
the “when not if”, and we must all be well prepared to handle.
The VECC ground breaking took place and we are all excited to get this project moving. This is the
first official step in seeing the VECC come to fruition. The event was very well attended.
It is always interesting to have a month with an extra day every four years. This leap year was no excep-
tion. It was a very active month and the extra day was put to good use.
Take care and be safe,
Doug McBee, Fire Chief
Page 2 Visalia Fire Department
FEBRUARY STATS
333%
67165%
212%
556%
17317%
333%
30%
February 2016 Incident Count
Fire
EMS/Rescue
Hazardous Condition
Service Call
Good Intent
Fall Call
Other
In February, the fire department re-
sponded to 1,034 calls for service.
Of these, 671 were for medical re-
sponse.
Currently, the fire department
has a total of six vacancies.
Although vacancies can yield
the City salary savings, they
also create overtime, as the
fire stations must continue to
maintain minimum staffing
levels.
So far this fiscal year, the City
has received $262,705 in
strike team reimbursements
from the state to offset staff
overtime costs.
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Training Program
Fire personnel completed City Safety, EMS and Monthly Tailboard Training topics. Personnel completed a
total of 1,564 hours of training in February. Several Fire Paramedics attended a Pediatric Advanced Cardiac
Life Support Class that was conducted by certified fire department personnel. The department’s Rescue
Team conducted bi-monthly training. Fire personnel trained on an evolution called the “Denver Drill” which
focuses on techniques on how to remove a trapped firefighter out of a window.
Hazardous Materials Program
In February there were twelve intrinsically safe batteries for the Kenwood portable radios and a M272 kit
purchased to replace existing equipment. A Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and four replace-
ment headsets were also purchased to replace existing equipment no longer working properly.
A ground resistivity monitor was purchased to give us the ability to test ground fields and ensure their ability
to absorb static electricity discharges during bonding and grounding activities. This is required during flam-
mable liquid transfers.
Technical Rescue Team
In February the Rescue Team conducted two training sessions that concentrated on shoring techniques.
Shoring techniques will continue in the April training sessions. Engineer Robert Briggs was added to the
Rescue Team which brings the roster of certified personnel up to 21 members.
FAREWELL AND BEST WISHES!
“I have had three and a half great years here in Visalia. I thank all of my
brothers and sisters for the mentorship and friendship I received. I am leav-
ing for Sac City Fire with a breadth of knowledge thanks to all of you.”
“Be well and continue to be the fantastic fire department that you are.”
Katie Cichy
Katie Cichy
Firefighter Paramedic
2012-2016
Page 4 Visalia Fire Department
Communications
Radio Management
During February, the communications program was focused on the addition of the Fire Station 53 equipment
as well as securing the appropriate intrinsically safe batteries for the Haz-Mat Team. A new standard has been
released within the radio industry and we will work with staff and OES to make sure that all equipment is cer-
tified appropriately. We were also notified of a problem with the Kaweah Delta radio frequency and will work
to have the radio reloads out ASAP to fix the frequency issue.
Portable Radios
We have ordered and are waiting to receive additional APX7000 portable radios that will be placed in service
once they arrive.
Repeaters
We are currently working with J’s communications to complete the installation of the MLC 8000 repeater sys-
tem that has been installed. We have already moved Fire Ch2 and VPD Ch2 over to the new digital system.
We will be working on the final cut over of Ch1 for both VFD and VPD now that a new network switch has
been configured and in place. We are also working on the finalization of the Fire Station 53 voter equipment
that will be installed as soon as the site is ready and the tower has been repaired.
CAD Report Management System Committee
Over the next 10 months, crews will start seeing training and testing occurring to get ready for a go live some-
time during the 3rd or 4th qtr of 2016.
VECC
The Motorola upgrade group met multiple times with Motorola staff and City staff to work out the equipment
lists and installation locations. We will be finalizing the equipment lists for ordering so that installation can
move forward as the VECC is completed.
Station 53 Project
Once the tower is repaired we will have both vendors onsite for their installation of our station and Zetron ra-
dios. We will be coordinating the Zetron equipment move with MIS once we are given the go ahead.
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Live Fire Exercise
California State Firefighter
Association
Active Shooter Training
On February 27 and 28, the Visalia Fire Department hosted two-days of grant-funded training at Fire Station 55 sponsored by the California State Firefighters Associ-ation for nearly 40 firefighters from all over the Central Valley. The training included live fire evolutions, forci-ble entry techniques, and vertical ventilation techniques demonstrated by using a propane controlled live fire training trailer owned by the Kelseyville Fire Department and a simulated commercial door prop.
This training is through the SAFER (Staffing for Ade-quate Fire and Emergency Response) grant to provide live fire training courses to volunteer firefighters throughout California. Instructors who conducted train-ing were personnel from the Visalia Fire Department, Kelseyville Fire Department, and the Merced Fire De-partment. The same training will be hosted on the weekend of March 12 and 13, 2016 in Reedley, CA by the Reedley Fire Department.
Page 6 Visalia Fire Department
On February 9, 2016, the Visalia Fire Department (Engine 56 – Captain Lovero, AEP/PM Spra-
dling, FF/PM Randall) responded to the 1300 block of south Lovers Lane for a report of cardi-
ac arrest. Upon arrival, fire personnel found facility staff providing cardio pulmonary resuscita-
tion (CPR) to a male patient in cardiac arrest. Fire personnel assumed care, continued with
basic life support measures as well as initiated advance cardiac life support. Fire department
paramedics maintained care with assistance from American Ambulance of Visalia. Through the
efforts of all first responders, when patient care was turned over to the ER staff at Kaweah Delta
Medical Center, the patient had regained a pulse and was breathing on his own.
On February 9, 2016, the Visalia Fire Department (Engine 54 – Captain/Paramedic Green-
wood, Engineer/Paramedic Wilkinson, FF/PM Church) responded to the 700 block of North
Court St where personnel found a juvenile patient with the inability to move his neck. Fire per-
sonnel were able to quickly recognize the patient was suffering from a dystonic reaction second-
ary to prescribed medication. Fire personnel assumed care, by providing basic and advanced
life support to include the administration of medication. Within a couple of minutes the patient
was able to move his neck once again. Patient care was turned over to the responding ambu-
lance for transport to Kaweah Delta Medical Center.
On February 22, 2016, the Visalia Fire Department (Engine 52 – Captain Krauss, Engineer
Costa, FF/PM Walker) responded to the 4500 block of W Tulare Ave. for a person who was not
breathing and did not have a pulse (heartbeat). Fire personnel were the first to arrive on scene
and found one patient in cardiac/respirator arrest. Fire personnel assumed and maintained care
throughout the duration of the incident. Through the appropriate basic and advanced life sup-
port interventions, first responder personnel were able to reestablish a pulse and breathing.
When the patient was delivered to KDMC ER Staff, the patient was still in serious/critical condi-
tion but was no longer deceased.
POSITIVE INTERACTION
Page 7
Dear Chief McBee:
It took a little tracking to get to you, and I am sorry for the delay - but I would like to commend several of
your staff who helped us.
I live in Geneva, IL, and on Friday, January 29, I was visiting my parents, Bill & Dorothy Pruitt in Visalia.
They reside at 1130 N. Kent Street.
That Friday morning around 9 AM, my 90 year old father fell. My mother called 911 for assistance. Fire
Captain Larry Garcia and his team responded immediately, The crew carefully assessed the situation and
asked Dad lots of questions before moving him. Mom and I listened to Dad’s responses, and we decided not
to transport him to the hospital at that time. Captain Garcia and the paramedics also listened carefully to what
we had to say. As a result, when they lifted Dad, they very carefully protected a rotator cuff (ongoing issue)
that could have hurt him more on the lift without their special attention. We asked that they help us get him to
his lift chair where I felt I could best handle him. At that time Dad did not indicate any new pain related to
this fall. 2-3 hours later he woke from a nap complaining of hip pain, so we called again for transport to
Kaweah Delta Emergency. Again, Captain Garcia (and the excellent team) responded. They simply could not
have been more professional, caring, and gentle with my father. I was so grateful that I asked Captain Gar-
cia for his card. He also gave me the names of Branden Delacruz and Shane Yoder. I believe they are
both EMTs, There was at least 1 more person whose name I did not get. They were all, quite simply, awe-
some.
I thought you would like to hear of the excellent work your folks are doing out there. It is deeply appreciated
by many families like us, I am sure.
Sincerely,
Dianne Hagar
3610 Ridge Pointe Dr.
Geneva, IL 60134
P.S. Dad is doing pretty well. I just returned home from another visit. He is at Linwood Gardens undergoing
physical therapy and gaining strength.
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