Tuesday, January 29, 2013

CZU gets new Unit Chief "The Right Man For The Job"

 Chief Jalbert makes his home in Santa Cruz
with his wife and daughter and has served
the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
for over 26 years.

 San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Welcomes New Chief 

Scott Jalbert of Santa Cruz has been promoted to unit chief of the San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

Scott Jalbert of Santa Cruz
CZU Unit Chief 

Jalbert, who began his post Tuesday, Jan. 22, succeeds John Ferreira, who retired from in December after 10 years on the job.

“I’m excited about a new adventure,” Jalbert said. “I’m going to be here awhile and I’m optimistic that things on the fiscal side are improving. I’m looking forward to the future.”

Jalbert, 44, began his career as a fire explorer in 1983 at the Cal Fire Belmont Station. He became a firefighter there in 1987 and advanced to a level-two firefighter in San Luis Obispo and then to an engineer in Lake County.

He returned to San Mateo-Santa Cruz as a captain in 1998 and was part of a paramedic engine team in San Mateo. He was a training officer from 2001 to 2006 before his promotion to battalion chief in San Mateo, where he served from 2006 to 2010.

Jalbert took over as division chief of Ben Lomond Camp in 2010 and became deputy chief of the San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit in 2011. He stepped up as acting unit chief when Ferreira retired.

“I’ve got some big shoes to fill behind Chief Ferreira,” Jalbert said.

As unit chief, Jalbert is in charge of managing all aspects of Cal Fire’s San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit, including the Santa Cruz County Fire Department, Pajaro Valley Fire Department, Ben Lomond Conservation Camp, Soquel Demonstration Forest, San Mateo County Fire Department and Coastside Fire Protection District.

He is also in charge of resource management and will coordinate mutual aid between departments for Santa Cruz County.

“Anything that happens here has my name on it,” Jalbert said.

Jalbert said his immediate priorities include continuing to improve fire protection and prevention programs and developing his management team. Among that team are Rob Sherman of Ben Lomond, who was promoted to division chief of the Ben Lomond Conservation Camp last week, and Ian Larkin of Santa Cruz County, who was promoted to administrative chief in charge of human resources and finances in January 2012.

Jalbert also said he’ll be focused on fine-tuning state responsibility area boundaries and working through the fiscal challenges the state and his unit are facing.

The unit chief, who will work out of the Felton Cal Fire headquarters on Highway 9 and an office in San Mateo, is also excited to continue Cal Fire’s partnership with the volunteer departments in the area.

‘There is a very cooperative spirit in Santa Cruz,” he said.

Jalbert is married with a 2-year-old daughter, and he and his wife are expecting twins within a couple of weeks.

Read more: Press-Banner - Cal Fire promotes new chief - Link

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.
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