November 2008
Board member Dave Souza and I attended the Fire District Association of California's certificate of achievement program on November 6 and 7 in Sacramento. Subjects covered in this program included: the California Health and Safety Code Fire Protection District Law of 1987, Fire District legal aspects, LAFCO, consolidations and mergers, employee relations, board member responsibilities, budget and finance issues, planning and the Brown act. Copies of hand out materials were brought back and will be distributed to incoming board members.
I attended the California Firefighters 2008 memorial at the Capital in Sacramento on Saturday October 18, 2008 along with hundreds of other brother and sister firefighters from throughout California. We met to honor the families of the 21 California firefighters that died in the line of duty or from illnesses related directly to their service. It was a very solemn and emotional gathering with Governor Schwarzenegger giving the keynote speech.
The volunteer firefighter recruitment program is in full swing with one more day scheduled to staff a booth at the Buffalo Center in Georgetown. This is a cooperative effort by the GVFPD and the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Department. Special thanks go out to A/C Szczepanik, Eng Frost and FF Rust for their efforts. We have 5 applicants.
GVFPD personnel have been hard at work on upgrading their State Fire Marshal certifications and training, Capt Burch attended the 40 hour "Fire Management 1A" course in Elk Grove, Engineers Frost and Norman attended the SFM course "Fire Command 1A" that was hosted by the Georgetown FD. FF. Havens and Eng. Frost are attending the SFM course "Pump Operator 1A" in Yolo County.
On Monday, November 17, 2008 the GVFPD, Georgetown, Cool and Lotus stations will participate in its annual mass casualty incident exercise. Last years exercise consisted of a mock school bus accident utilizing students from the High School as "victims".
We have been advised that the Districts health care cost will increase 7% in 2009.
The apparatus room is getting painted tomorrow. Seventh Generation Painting from Georgetown is the contractor. Industrial grade paint is being used for easy cleaning and maintenance. Winterization of facilities and equipment has started.
The paperwork for the purchase of the OES engine has been submitted. We anticipate delivery of the engine in mid December.
The GVFPD responded to 45 emergency dispatches in October 2008.
The Christmas Dinner is scheduled for December 5, 2008 at the Buckhorn Restaurant.
A special "Firefighter appreciation" spaghetti feed is being held at the Garden valley Grange on January 10, 2009. The event is hosted by the Sousa family and the Garden Valley FD Support Group. The public is invited.
I had the privilege of attending the Support Groups Community Breakfast last Sunday.
It was good to see the packed house, the smiles on the face of the support group staff and hearing the banter and laughter of all present. Fun was had by all. As an added note, food was running out fast and during the meal the crowd was treated to the excitement of the crews leaving to a medical emergency in the District.
Bill Dekker, Fire Chief
November 11, 2008
