SBCFD: Announces appointment of Mike Wakoski to Battalion Chief Special Operations, Training & Safety Division

Saturday, June 8, 2013

SBCFD: Announces appointment of Mike Wakoski to Battalion Chief Special Operations, Training & Safety Division

Mike Wakoski Joins County Fire

June 3 - It is with great pleasure to announce the appointment of Mike Wakoski to Battalion Chief assigned to Special Operations, Training & Safety Division, effective June 1st.

Chief Wakoski brings with him over 37 years of fire fighting experience; starting his career as a seasonal fire fighter with CDF. From serving on a hot shot crew, fire fighting engine companies, to management, rising through the ranks of the U.S. Forest Service to Division Chief on the San Bernardino National Forest, Mike has experience in all aspects of fire fighting and emergency management. Chief Wakoski has served as the Incident Commander of U.S. Forest Service Southern California Incident Management Team 3 for the past 4 years and will continue to serve in that capacity. Prior to this, he served over 25 years in various roles on incident management teams.

“Wakoski’s knowledge and expertise in wild land fire fighting is a huge asset to County Fire and the citizens we serve and protect”, stated Operations Deputy Chief Dan Odom. “His experience is invaluable”.

Chief Wakoski will focus his efforts on the further development of County Fire Hand Crews, ensuring their readiness in fire fighting and will assist in the development of the County Fire emergency medical service and fire fighting helicopter program. Mike will also serve a role on the San Bernardino County Incident Management Team.

Chief Wakoski has a certificate in wildland studies from Humboldt State University and an Associate degree in fire science.

Mike and wife Noelle have two children in college and are committed to their family and community. They are all outdoor enthusiasts and enjoy most activities from the desert and mountain regions to the beautiful ocean.

The San Bernardino County Fire Department is an all-risk/full-service fire department committed to providing the highest level of service in the most efficient and cost effective manner to the citizens and communities that we serve. At 20,160 square miles, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the continental United States and our jurisdiction encompasses 17,500 square miles of extremely diverse environments that stretch from the Los Angeles County line on the west, to the Colorado River on the east, to the Nevada State line and Kern and Inyo counties on the north. We provide services to five contract cities, more than 54 communities, and all unincorporated areas of the county.

San Bernardino County Fire remains committed to providing Premier Fire Services.

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CFN - California Fire News 2013

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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.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Saturday, June 8, 2013