October 2008
GVFPD Engine 251 is currently assigned to Southern California as part of an El Dorado County Local Government Strike team. Wes Norman, Mike Braziel and Charles Frost joined crews and engines from El Dorado County Fire, El Dorado Hills Fire, Pioneer Fire and Diamond Springs Fire to provide assistance during the Santa Ana wind events this week. Assistant Chief Linda Szczepanik is the Strike Team leader with GVFPD volunteer Jeff Barnhart as the assistant.
Water tender 51 suffered a pump failure which required a complete overhaul of the pump. Shift personnel, under the direction of Captain Jeff Burch disassembled the pump and sent it to Burtons Fire Apparatus in Modesto, who did all the machine work required. On duty crews reassembled the pump a reinstalled it on the unit. It is estimated that the work completed by the crews saved the District $3000. Total cost of the new parts and machine work was approx $2400.
In the attempt to get more participation at District training , the staff made the decision at the October meeting to change the schedule from 2- 2 hour trainings a month to 1 4 hour training a month with a heavy emphasis on hands on skills. In addition to the schedule change, we now invite Cal Fire Station 50 to all of these trainings.
I am proud to announce that the storage shed is finally built and in service. GVFPD crews spent the weekend cleaning out the maintenance room and moving items into the shed. GV resident Gary Staves has volunteered to paint the shed(s).
With the start of school last month, the staff of the GVFPD have been busy helping Captain Mike Sampson with his 3 time a week high school fire technology ROP program which is held in our training room. This vocational education program consist of 24 students who participate in a intensive hands on and classroom experience to learn EMS and fire related skills with a emphasis on teamwork. Our own Wes Norman was a former student in this program.
Acting Engineer Mike Braziel recently completed the 40 hour State Fire Marshal's rope rescue technology course. Mike will be passing along the new information to GVFPD personnel at a future training.
The special audit requested by the El Dorado county Auditor/Controller is underway and is expected to be completed by November 1, 2008
All All-Risk Team employees are paid up to date (October3, 2008) and all past team fires that have occurred this year have been billed.
Bill Dekker, Fire Chief
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