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.

Page 3

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.

Page 5

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.

FROM THE COMMUNITY

Page 8 Visalia Fire Department