TGU: Mickie Jakez 25 years of service, PIO retires

CalFire Public Information Officer Mickie Jakez prepares to deliver donated cookies to fire crews during the 2008 lightning fires. After 25 years, she retired Wednesday from the Tehama-Glenn Unit headquarters. ( DN-Zeeb )

After 25 years of service, 15 of which were spent with the Tehama-Glenn Unit, Mickie Jakez is saying goodbye to CalFire. Her last day in the office was Wednesday.

"My retirement is going to give me the opportunity to spend more time with my family," Jakez said. "I thoroughly enjoy my job and it's going to be very difficult for me to say goodbye."

With six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Jakez said she has no plans to move from her house in Anderson any time soon. "I'm going to miss my job, but I'm going to stay active," Jakez said. "I do plan to volunteer. Probably here at CalFire, the library and school programs and I'm very active in the Redding Emblem Club."

Jakez began her career with CalFire in the former Region II office in Redding in 1984 as an office assistant and was promoted from there to assistant business services officer.
fire prevention specialist serving as juvenile intervention officer counseling children who have started fires and their families.

Jakez has also worked as the Public Information Officer and spent a great deal of time working in the educational field teaching fire safety and prevention at schools as well as at community outreach events.

She was in charge of running the information center for the Tehama-Glenn Unit during major incidents, including the lightning series fires that rolled through the county in 2008.

"It's a 24-hour-a-day job," Jakez said of running the center. "My job (overall) has been a fun job with lots of rewards and I've been able to work with outstanding people."

Her favorite part, as a people person, she says is being able to spend her day talking with people and getting CalFire's messages of fire prevention and safety out to the public.

Outside of those from CalFire, Jakez said she has enjoyed working with the California Highway Patrol, Tehama County Sheriff's Department, District Attorney's Office, various news media and the Tehama District Fair Board.

"Mark Eidman at the fair has been very supportive of all the activities we've wanted to do at the fairground," she said.

Jakez headed up the Volunteers In Prevention program.

"[Jakez] built up a reliable team of Volunteers In Prevention who are a core group for fire information, ham radio support, school education programs and community outreach," said CalFire Director Del Walters in a letter.

Humble, Jakez attributes many of her accomplishments to her volunteers and community.

"I don't think I did anything anyone else wouldn't do," she said. "The Red Bluff residents and this community have been just so great. You ask for help and they are right there."

Walters said Jakez, her accomplishments and her innovative prevention projects, such as trading cards and career days, are known throughout the region.

"Your career with CalFire has been an accomplished one, which you should be proud of, and one that the people who work with you have enjoyed," Walters said.

Jakez received the 1986 Sustained Superior Accomplishment Award.

"She's a great lady and she has a fantastic program she developed," said Unit Chief Gary Durden. "She is a doer, but she doesn't want recognition."

Durden, Asst. Chief Chuck Schoendienst, who is Jakez' boss, and several others said she will be greatly missed.

"She doesn't like to be in the limelight," Schoendienst said. "The nice and reliable thing about her is she doesn't release things before she's supposed to. She's dependable."

Durden said Jakez is like an Energizer Bunny, who just keeps going and is always looking for ways to improve her programs.

"In my opinion, she's going to be very hard to replace and whoever replaces her is going to have very big shoes to fill," Durden said. "She's our go-to person. She just does everything."

Jakez was on the board involved in bringing Relay For Life to Red Bluff along with Durden, Rick Pound and June Morford.

Jakez spurs a lot of the community outreach projects CalFire does including work with the Salvation Army bell ringing and food drives, Durden said.

"Too often we focus on the flashy, high-flying, grandiose part of CalFire and we tend to forget that it takes everyone to make this car move," said Asst. Chief Dale Kinyon in an e-mail.

"Mickie has, for as long as I can remember, been maintaining and motivating, sometimes Shanghaiing volunteers for (Tehama-Glenn Unit). Mickie uses her grandmotherly tactics to get even the most hardened, crusty individuals to donate their time and money to her causes."

Jakez assists with the Adopt-a-Family program, Tehama-Glenn Burn and Benevolent Fund Crab Feed and Read Across America, Kinyon said.

"I want to personally thank (her) for all the help (she) has given me over the years," Kinyon said. "(She is) truly an unsung here in my book."

Source: Contracostatimes.com article - Link

Tanker 910 arrives down under

The eagle has landed - Victoria has finally taken delivery of a super water bomber for the bushfire season.

The heavily modified DC10 flew in from the US to Avalon yesterday, on a $10 million lease deal.

The first such aircraft to be used in Australia, it can reach any part of Victoria within 45 minutes and soak 1.2 kilometres of bushfire in one dump with its 45,000 litres of water.

It is expected to be ready for action by early next month for the worst of the season, and will be based at Avalon.

Premier John Brumby said the addition to Victoria's firefighting arsenal was part of a record financing program to make sure the state was as fire-ready as possible.

"We have been working with the Country Fire Authority since September to bring a large aerial firefighting aircraft to Victoria for the first time to help protect lives and properties," Mr Brumby said.

"Large aircraft that can carry up to eight times the water or retardant of smaller firefighting aircraft are untried in Australian conditions. Victoria will lead the way in testing their ability to help fight fires in the peak of this fire season," he said.

The plane will be deployed when and if necessary by the state's top firefighters.

But both the Department of Sustainability and the CFA have warned that aircraft are not silver bullets in fighting bushfires.

The Elvis skycrane arrived in Victoria last month.

CalFire has previously contracted for the DC-10 VLAT for three fire seasons, from 2007 through 2009. 10 Tanker Air Carrier has a total of two DC-10s that have been retrofitted as “very large air tankers, which can carry up to 12,000 gallons.

Source: Herald Sun - Article Link
More Info: 10 Tanker Air Carrier home - Link

Oak Glen VMP - Cherry Valley

Oak Glen Vegetation Management Project

Fire crews will intentionally burn debris and slash piles this winter in the brush land between Oak Glen and Banning to reduce the wildfire danger, Cal Fire officials said.

The burning will be limited to 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays.

The work will be conducted along the northern edge of Cherry Valley, southeast of Oak Glen and northwest of Banning.

The aim is to help keep wildfires from burning into those communities, and to keep fires that do start in those communities from spreading.

The project could have started as early as Thursday, but no burning took place, Cal Fire officials said. However, U.S. Forest Service crews did conduct a controlled burn in the Barton Flats area northeast of Oak Glen on Thursday.

SLO: CAL FIRE WILD LAND FIREFIGHTER BASIC ACADEMY

CAL FIRE/SLO COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT

Class Title: CAL FIRE WILD LAND FIREFIGHTER BASIC ACADEMY
(32 Hour Bridge Class)
Dates: January 23, 24, 30, 31 2010
Times: Saturdays and Sundays, 0800 - 1800
Class Description: This course combines 32 hours of wildland specific instruction with the
instruction students have received in the fire academy to meet the requirements set forth for CAL FIRE and the CAL FIRE Basic Wildland Firefighter I course.
Successful completion requires students to be in top physical condition.
The certificate of completion is recognized by CAL FIRE as meeting the standards
set in HB-4300 for the CAL FIRE Basic Firefighter I, 67 hour training.

Prerequisites: State Fire Marshal FFI cert within the last three years or have completed the
SLO County Volunteer Firefighter Academy within the last three years.
Instructor: Training Captain Chad Britton
Certificate Awarded: CAL FIRE Certificate of Completion – must pass written test(s) and skills
examinations with a minimum accuracy of 70%
Location: South Bay Training Center
880 Manzanita
Los Osos, California
Fee: $100.00, check payable to SLO County Fire Department. This is not a
required class for PCF’s and is not paid for by SLO County Fire Dept.
What to bring: Full wildland and structural PPE and lunch.
What to wear: Button up uniform shirt or equivalent to duty uniform or casual business
attire. No tee shirts or ¼ zip sweatshirts will be allowed in class.
How to register: Complete registration and mail in WITH check, made out to SLO County
Fire. All registration is on a first come first served basis. Phone, emailed, or faxed registrations will not be accepted.

IF INTERESTED PLEASE READ OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE --> http://www.calfireslo.org/Documents/Training/2010/20100101_BridgeAca_AHC.pdf
Questions: For registration questions, call 805-528-2160.

Ophir Fire caused by Highway 70 billboard

PALERMO — A malfunctioning highway billboard is believed to be the cause of the June 2008 Ophir Fire, according to a statement released today by Cal Fire-Butte County fire officials.

After an 18-month investigation, fire officials have determined an electrical failure on a Highway 70 billboard ignited the fire, which burned approximately 1,600 acres and destroyed 21 homes June 10, 2008.

The investigation is ongoing.

Fire officials are still determining whether to seek financial compensation for fire suppression costs, or if criminal charges will be pursued.

Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14021485

LODD: Cosumnes Firefighter dies from mysterious rash

A firefighter is dead after developing a mysterious rash that sent him to the hospital, according to the Cosumnes CSD Fire Department.

Richard Ibarra, 42, died Wednesday at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento in what the fire department says could be an in the line of duty death -- the first in the department in more than 100 years.

Cosumnes Battalion Chief John Michelini says Ibarra was very healthy until developing the rash. It caused severe internal damage, and doctors have yet to diagnose what it was. A coroner will determine the cause of death during an autopsy.

Ibarra was surrounded by his immediate family and his firefighting family when he died, according to Michelini. Ibarra has been with the Cosumnes Fire Department since 1999. He is survived by his wife and two young children.

Memorial service plans are pending and we will keep you updated.

Sheep fire investigation continues

Flames roar up a mountainside that firefighters ignited in order to keep the Sheep fire away from a ski resort, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009 in San Bernardino, Calif.. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County, freeing up state resources to battle the fire. (AP Photo / Mike Meadows)

WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- Investigators say a wildfire that burned more than 11 square miles in the San Bernardino National Forest near Wrightwood may have been deliberately set.

Investigators say it was human caused, and may have been arson.

One home and four other structures were destroyed in the October "Sheep Fire."

The fire also forced the evacuation of Wrightwood.

Investigators have ruled out downed power lines, lightning, or other causes.

The starting point was near Lytle Creek and Sheep Canyon roads.

Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in that area on October 3rd to contact authorities.

Source: ABC - Article Link

Los Angeles County Fire Department Honors good Samaritans

On Tuesday the Los Angeles County Fire Department recognized good Samaritans, Drew Bruno of Agoura Hills, John Hayden of Agoura Hills and Chris Kessler of Moorpark.

The three men helped a motorist who was stranded in a vehicle that crashed about 300 feet down an embankment in Malibu during rainy conditions on December 7th.

Photo credit: FOX News: http://kttv.m0bl.net/imgdir/content/news-local/kttv5106837-320x240.png

Anderson Fire Protection District chief under criminal investigation

Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the case of the former Anderson Fire Protection District chief who resigned earlier this year amid an investigation into possible misconduct.

The revelation that former Fire Chief Joe Piccinini is under investigation by Redding police came Monday at a hearing in which Shasta County Superior Court Judge Monica Marlow ruled that the district must turn over copies of its investigative report to the Record Searchlight, which sued under the state's Public Records Act to get the documents.

"The public interest in disclosure outweighs the public interest that would be served by withholding the records," Marlow wrote in her ruling. "The public interest in disclosure is high because of the position held by Mr. Piccinini and the need for the public to verify accountability."

Michael Fitzpatrick, the Anderson attorney representing the fire board, argued that the report was exempt from disclosure because it fell under the protection of attorney-client privilege.

Fitzpatrick also argued that disclosing details from the report would violate Piccinini's protections as outlined in the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act.

The act, signed into law in 2007, exempts statements that firefighters make under duress or in administrative proceedings from being used against them in criminal cases.

Fitzpatrick said that police investigators and representatives with the Shasta County District Attorney's Office also have sought copies of the board's investigative report.

But at a hearing on Friday, Superior Court Judge William Gallagher stipulated that law enforcement officers investigating the case wouldn't be able to see Piccinini's statements, Fitzpatrick said.

"If the whole report was handed over to the press and to the public, it's no different than it being handed to the police," Fitzpatrick said.

Marlow nonetheless ruled that the report should be public, since the civil case and the criminal case were entirely separate matters.

"There's a conflict of the statutes, the Firefighters' Bill of Rights versus the public's right to know," she said.

Shasta County District Attorney Jerry Benito said Monday that he was pleased with Marlow's ruling, since it grants investigators access to the key document in Piccinini's case.

"It would be inappropriate to go forward to determine whether criminal prosecution was warranted knowing that there's a lengthy and detailed report prepared that we don't have," Benito said.

The case is under investigation by the Redding Police Department. The matter has been assigned to Deputy District Attorney Erin Dervin, who handles financial crimes cases and matters of alleged impropriety involving public officials, Benito said.

Though it fell under the jurisdiction of the Anderson Police Department, Redding police are investigating the case to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest since Anderson's former police chief, Neil Purcell, was the investigator the fire board hired in Piccinini's case, Benito said.

Marlow also ruled that the civil case didn't fall under the protection of confidential discussions between a client and an attorney, since the district's board members had instigated the investigation and the investigator was acting at the behest of the board, not its attorney.

Marlow ruled that the names of all employees except Piccinini's be redacted from the report. She didn't set a specific timeline for redaction and release of the documents.

There were 30 or so witnesses interviewed in the investigation, conducted by Purcell.

Piccinini resigned July 1 after being placed on administrative leave in May.

Neither he nor the fire board has offered an explanation of the resignation or disclosed the findings of the investigation.

Piccinini has said he did nothing wrong. When reached by phone Monday, Piccinini said to contact his Gold River attorney, Dan Thompson.

Thompson, who did not attend the Monday court session, said later that that he was surprised by Marlow's ruling, calling it potentially far-reaching.

It's his concern that the ruling may affect the confidentiality of police and fire management personnel throughout the state.

"That's a pretty earth-shattering decision, to be frank," he said.

He said he will try to obtain a written copy of the ruling so he could determine what the next legal step might be, such as an appeal.

"We're certainly not ruling that out," he said.

Purcell's investigation cost the district at least $41,000.

Aside from turning over copies of the report, the board may have to reimburse the newspaper for its attorney's fees.

Under the California Public Records Act, a government agency can be ordered to pay attorneys' fees for someone who asks for public records, is denied and has to sue in order to get copies.

The Record Searchlight made its initial records act request for the report last summer.

Record Searchlight Editor Silas Lyons declined Monday to say how much the newspaper has paid its Redding attorney, Walter McNeill, as a final bill hasn't yet been tallied.

But the case, he said, is similar to other suits the newspaper filed and won against the city of Redding in April 2008 and against the Dunsmuir Union High School District in January 2007.

Dunsmuir paid the paper $64,000 to reimburse McNeill for the precedent-setting case, which went all the way to the California Supreme Court. Redding paid the paper $36,288 in reimbursement.

"It was important to take this issue to court because our community deserves better than official secrecy when someone as trusted and important as a fire chief is investigated for wrongdoing and then resigns," Lyons said. "For months, we have asked the fire district's leadership and attorney to do the right thing and release this public document without an expensive legal fight. Eventually, they asked us to file suit, so we did. We'll continue to push as hard as we must on any case that threatens open government in the north state."

Reporter Ryan Sabalow can be reached at 225-8344 or at rsabalow@redding.com.

Reporter Jim Schultz contributed to this report.

Source: Rediing Searchlight - Article Link http://www.redding.com/news/2009/dec/15/judge-orders-release-of-anderson-fire-department/?partner=RSS

City of Tracy Fire Department reduces service

Tracy will drop from three-man to two-man crews at times, a move that’s expected to save money in overtime costs and avoid any temporary station closures.

But the Tuesday night decision by the board of the Tracy Rural Fire District could mean paramedics are slightly slower in acting to save the life of a heart-attack victim, for example, or that firefighters must wait for help before they enter a burning building.

A budget deficit forced the board’s hand.

“What’s unfortunate is the district doesn’t have money to provide the type of service we would like,” said Tony Perez, head of the Tracy firefighters union.

The district, together with the Tracy Fire Department, makes up the South County Fire Authority, which collects tax money that’s used to pay for firefighters within city limits, in the Tracy countryside and in Mountain House, which subcontracts with Tracy Rural for firefighters.

The district’s budget is about $4.6 million, and it’s looking at a $600,000 deficit this year.

To cut expenses, the board considered two proposals by Chief Chris Bosch.

Under one, the board would vote for rolling “brown-outs,” whereby one of Tracy Rural’s three fire stations would be closed for several hours a time. A decision about which stations to close would have been made after analyzing statistics that show when and where there are few calls.

The board ultimately rejected that idea, though.

Instead, the board decided to change how it uses firefighters at its fire station on Durham Ferry Road southeast of Tracy and its fire station west of town on Schulte Road.

Both stations are manned by three firefighters on each of a day’s three shifts.

In the past, if a firefighter called in sick or was on vacation, the absence would be filled by a firefighter called in from a day off — a move that forced the city to pay overtime for the shift.

That’s no longer the case.

Now, the third firefighter on duty at the Schulte Road station will fill in for someone sick or on vacation. If there’s a second absence that day, a firefighter from Tracy Rural’s Durham Ferry Road station will fill in. Because both are already on the clock, the moves will cost the city no overtime, which reached $1.3 million in fiscal year 2008-09.

Bosch and Perez said the change should mean less overtime costs, but firefighters worry it could also mean greater risk — both to them and to the people the paramedics treat.

Perez said that by law, when there are only two firefighters at a burning building, they must wait for a second fire truck before they go inside.

And when a two-person crew shows up to treat a medical emergency, there’s one less person to administer an IV, open an airway, perform CPR or use a defibrillator if needed.

Perez said firefighters would “get the job done” but could be “slowed down.”

The move is not expected to lengthen the time firefighters take to arrive at either a fire or a medical call, though.

Bosch said the changes voted on this week could save anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 for the district this year.

“We’ve got to do what we can to balance the budget,” the chief said.

Source: Tracy Press - Link

City of Tracy Fire Department - Link