CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire News Release

Monday, March 25, 2013

CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire News Release

Riverside County Fire Chief Earns Esteemed Designation as Chief Fire Officer

CAL FIRE Riverside Unit and Riverside County Fire Chief John R. Hawkins recently received the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) designation as Chief Fire Officer. Chief Hawkins is one of only 865 CFOs throughout the world.

The CPC is an esteemed panel of professionals from local and federal government, as well as fire and emergency medical service experts that administer the CFO Designation Program.

Criteria for receiving this prestigious recognition is a rigorous process which includes a thorough assessment of the applicant¿s education, experience, professional development, technical competencies, professional and industry-specific contributions, community involvement and finally, a future professional development plan.

Serving as the CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Chief since 2006 only scratches the surface of Hawkins vast 50-year career in the fire service with CAL FIRE. Hawkins oversees what he has coined as an - integrated, cooperative, regional fire protection - system, inclusive of 97 fire stations, three inmate firefighter camps, one air attack base and nearly 1,600 career personnel. Hawkins also serves as the County Operational Area Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid Coordinator as well as the President of the Riverside County Fire Chiefs Association.

Chief Hawkins extensive emergency management, firefighting, administrative and operational expertise continues; he is one of only 24 certified California Fire Chiefs and a certified Chief Fire Officer and graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program.

I am very honored to be recognized by the Center for Public Safety Excellence. Throughout my career, I always tried to improve my education, experience and training. I strongly believe in making a difference-, said Hawkins.

John Hawkins comes from a family of firefighters, including his three sons. He strives to promote and uphold his core values of leadership, competency, integrity, safety and customer service; and expects the same of each and every firefighter and support personnel.

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

Monday, March 25, 2013