Chevron donates $500,000 to CAL FIRE for wildfires

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Chevron donates $500,000 to CAL FIRE for wildfires

SAN RAMON, Calif., Oct. 8, 2008 – Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) announced today that it has donated $500,000 to the State of California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to help support the cost of battling the state's severe wildfires this year.

"On behalf of the people of California, I offer Chevron my sincere thanks for its generous donation to support our state's firefighting efforts in the face of one of the most difficult and costly fire seasons in history," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said. "California has the most courageous and best trained firefighters in the world, and we must ensure they are equipped with the resources needed to protect our communities. The cooperation during this year's fires has been fantastic, and I am pleased to see private support because as Californians, we are all in this situation together."

The Chevron donation is in response to the more than 2,000 fires this summer that engulfed nearly 1.2 million acres across the state – several times the annual average – and required the response of firefighters from CAL FIRE, local firefighters and other volunteers.

"As a California company, we're grateful for the courage and determination of California firefighters who put themselves at risk to protect our state and its resources," said Chevron vice chairman Peter Robertson. "This contribution is, in part, recognition of their outstanding public service."

"I am pleased with this demonstration of Chevron's commitment to public safety and partnership with CAL FIRE," said Chief Ruben Grijalva. "Wildfires and other disasters strike California all too often. With support from public and private organizations, such as Chevron, CAL FIRE stands ready to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters that may impact all Californians. Chevron's demonstration of corporate responsibility serves as a great example of public/private partnerships within California's emergency response community."

Chevron has a history of providing support when natural disasters occur in the state, most recently a $500,000 grant from the Chevron Foundation in October 2007 for relief efforts related to the Southern California wildfires. In addition to the monetary support in 2007, Chevron also provided 20,000 bottles of water, 11,500 meals and a firefighting team and engine was dispatched from the Richmond Refinery.

Source: Chevron Corporation Press release- 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.

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

Wednesday, October 8, 2008