As we begin January of 2020, the Kern County Firefighters Local 1301 would like to wish all of our members, friends, and supporters a very Happy New Year!
Over the last year, your Kern County Firefighters in partnership with our brothers and sisters at the Kern Law Enforcement association came together to address issues that are facing our first responders locally. This partnership is an example of partnering with one collective voice and has been very successful in championing the message in Sacramento, regarding the economic impacts related to further regulation and stagnation of the oil permitting process. Our Keeping California campaign has been very successful in giving our communities education material, the ability to send letters to their state representatives, supporting our environmentally responsible oil production. Visit
www.keepingcalifornia.com
for more information on how you can contribute to the cause.
Over the next several weeks, several more veteran, seasoned Kern County Firefighters are leaving our fire department to take “Rookie” positions in other Southern California fire departments. This process can take upwards of two years to complete. Our firefighters are making these decisions based off of the continued tumultuous working environment, uncertainty of their financial future and desire to work for an employer who appreciates, rather than berates its employees. We wish these individuals the greatest of luck in their endeavors and take pride in providing these Southern California communities in having supplied them with highly trained and highly educated firefighters. Their gain will be Kern County's loss.
In today's political climate it is imperative our county leaders’ band together with labor organizations to assure we are standing in solidarity and championing the same message. In the next few weeks county administrators will likely take action to impose their last best and final offer on your firefighters. This action is counterproductive to our mission of solidarity, building on an already adversarial relationship. These actions will further erode public safety for Kern County, and any further threats to the safety of the communities we serve will be defended vigorously. Please join us in keeping Kern First and assuring our communities remain safe and secure. Properly funded and trained public safety employees are instrumental in attracting industry and business to our communities.
We wish all of our members and the residents of Kern County a very happy 2020. On behalf of the dedicated members of the Kern County Firefighters Local 1301, it is our honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Kern County Firefighters
Local 1301
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Photo courtesy of Local 1301
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Bidding More Kern County Firefighters “Goodbye and Goodluck”
Once again, your Kern County Firefighters must say, “Goodbye and good luck!” to Firefighter/Paramedic Daniel Redruello and Firefighter Tyler Jaques. The decision to leave and start over with another department was not an easy one for the two of them; stating better pay, benefits, and financial stability made up their decision to leave. Trying to plan for the future became stressful with no wage increases in the near future. We wish you both the best and we know that your new departments will benefit from our loss.
This is now the 38th and 39th Firefighter since 2016 to leave the Kern County Fire Department
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Oil restrictions may impact Kern's deputies and firefighters in a big way, unions say
As California Governor Gavin Newsom continues cracking down on the state's oil industry, local officials say that a move away from oil may carry some unintended consequences. "Property tax is the primary funding source for the fire department, any changes in the evaluation of lands, especially our oil lands, will have a significant impact to that budget," said David Nelson, the President of the Kern County Firefighters Association, a union that represents the Kern County Fire Department. And that's why local first responders are speaking out against recent steps by the state to move the state away from oil.
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Quick response to Oildale fire saved neighboring home from blaze
Quick action by firefighters early Tuesday prevented a fire at a vacant mobile home in Oildale from displacing 11 people who lived in the home next door. When firefighters arrived on scene in the 200 block of East Moneta Avenue the empty mobile home was engulfed in flames and fire had spread to the exterior of a neighboring home, according to a Kern County Fire Department news release. But firefighters extinguished the fire before it reached the interior of the neighboring home.
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See how the fires in Australia compare to some of California’s worst fires
Australia is in the midst of a massive brush fire season, with fires covering a much larger area than even California’s most devastating wildfires. To help visualize the size and scale of the fire season, the Sacramento Bee created a map containing Australian fire data from the last week of December and California fire data from Nov. 8-15, 2018 – when the Camp Fire raged near Paradise and the Woolsey Fire broke out near Malibu. You can view the entire, full-sized map
HERE
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One minor injury in early Monday house fire in east Bakersfield
Four children and two adults escaped a house fire on Pioneer Drive in east Bakersfield, according to the Kern County Fire Department. One family member suffered a minor injury while leaving the home and was taken by ambulance for further evaluation, a news release said. When firefighters arrived on scene around 2 a.m., smoke was coming from the front door and the eaves of the home. The fire caused $25,000 damage to the home.
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County firefighters rescue woman from burning home that didn’t have working smoke alarms
Fire officials say one woman needed to be rescued and hospitalized following a fire at a home without working smoke alarms in East Bakersfield. Kern County firefighters were called to the 4200 block of Earl Avenue for a report of a burning home with someone possibly inside. Rescue crews entered the home and found a woman inside. The woman was rescued from inside the home and was treated and later taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation. Firefighters were able to quickly put out the flames at the home after the rescue, officials said.
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Photo courtesy of Jack Barnwell/Daily Independent
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No injuries in Monday mobile home fire
Kern County Fire Engines 74 and 77 responded to a single-wide mobile home fire in a mobile home park in the 200 block of West Moyer Avenue. The fire was quickly contained, according to Engine 74 Capt. Tom Nicoll. “It looks to be a room and contents fire,” Nicoll said, adding it was contained to the back room of the mobile home. No one was injured in the fire and firefighters were able to extinguish it. The cause is under investigation.
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Fire officials provide safety tips during warm months
Colder temperatures are here and Kern County Fire Department said structure fires are on the rise. Three victims are recovering after being rescued from their homes that caught on fire, just in the last week in East Bakersfield. County fire officials said they frequently see this issue during this time of year, but safety proofing your house ahead of time can prevent tragedy.
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KCFD rescues three people from boat
Personnel from the Kern County Fire Department (KCFD) were dispatched to a portion of the Kern River in Kernville after receiving a call of four people trapped in a boat that had become stuck in the middle of the river near the Rivernook Campground. Upstream and downstream safety protocols were established as additional fire crews arrived to the scene to aid Search and Rescue. Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) were distributed to the occupants of the boat prior to being assisted out of the boat and to the shoreline.
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Photo courtesy of Jack Barnwell/Daily Independent
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2 injured in Monday collision
Two people were transported to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital for treatment following a two-vehicle collision. Two vehicles were traveling westbound on West Upjohn Avenue when one vehicle was preparing to turn left on to South Sunset Street. The second vehicle then rear-ended the first. Two people in the first vehicle were transported to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, with the driver suffering major injuries and the passenger suffering moderate injuries. Kern County Fire Engines 74 and 77 and Liberty Ambulance also responded to the scene.
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Grand jury report commends city, first responders, citizens for earthquake response
The cities and joint powers committee of the Kern County grand jury on Jan. 15 released a report praising the city of Ridgecrest, emergency responders and community members for their response to the Ridgecrest earthquakes July 4 and 5, 2019. Titled “City of Ridgecrest: a Whole Lot of Shaking Going On,” the report states under comments “The Committee was impressed and commends the City of Ridgecrest, Kern County OEC, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County Fire Department...” The sole recommendation in the report was that the city of Ridgecrest review the city’s emergency operations plan and update if needed to reflect lessons learns from the earthquakes.
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New Recruits Begin Their Fire Service Path
Congratulations to the 26 recruits taking their first step toward a career in the fire service! May the skills learned from your Kern County Fire & Bakersfield Fire Department instructors benefit you and the communities you serve for many years to come.
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Photo courtesy of Kern County Fire IG
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KCFD Responds to trash truck and passenger vehicle accident
Kern County Fire and California City firefighters responded to a reported vehicle accident on 20 Mule team road in California City. Upon arrival the firefighters found a trash truck and a passenger vehicle which had collided, pinning the driver of the car inside. The extrication was extensive due to the front end of the truck sitting over the driver of the passenger vehicle. Firefighters were able to separate the 2 vehicles and continue working to remove the patient through the use of hydraulic cutters and spreaders, “Jaws of Life.” After extrication the patient was flown by air to a trauma center. No other injuries were reported.
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Photo courtesy of Kern County Fire IG
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Firefighters extricate three from mangled vehicle accident wreckage
KCFD Firefighters responded to a multi- vehicle accident on HWY 43 at I-5 where 3 patients required extrication. Once extricated by firefighters, 1 patient was airlifted by MediVac 1 while the other 2 patients were transported by Hall Ambulance ground ambulance.
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Photo courtesy of Cara Jackson / Tehachapi News
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Fire department says OK to controlled burns in Tehachapi
Residents in Tehachapi and throughout Kern County may start burning hazard reduction fuels now that open burning is permitted, said a recent Kern County Fire Department press release. Andrew Freeborn, public information officer for KCFD, said in an interview that people need to apply in-person for a permit at the fire department location nearest to where they live if they plan to burn at their property. "Firefighters are able to explain the permit, walk people through the information, get everything filled out and file it," Freeborn said.
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California governor’s budget calls for hundreds more firefighters. ‘It’s about damn time.’
Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling for the state to add hundreds of more firefighters to its largest force, Cal Fire, aiming to improve wildfire suppression. The proposal to hire 677 more firefighters would boost Cal Fire’s capability to quickly respond to fires during peak seasons, according to the governor’s 2020-21 budget. The budget says the permanent firefighter positions would be added over the next five years.
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Photo courtesy of Local 1301
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Local 1301 Works to Encourage Economic Stability
Today Local 1301 President David Nelson and Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Tape met with Uduak-Joe Ntuk, the head of the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR). Your Kern County Firefighters are working hard to encourage economic stability for the working families of Kern County.
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Photo courtesy of Wally Skaii/Los Angeles Times
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Human-caused ignitions spark California’s worst wildfires but get little state focus
It could have been another bad wildfire year in California. A bountiful summer crop of quick-to-burn dead grass carpeted the hillsides. Autumn was warm and dry. A record-breaking stretch of fire weather hit the Bay Area in October. But it wasn’t. California wildfires charred about 270,000 acres in 2019, the smallest number since 2011. The three fatalities and roughly 735 burned structures were a fraction of the catastrophic losses of the previous two fire seasons.
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Firefighters Teach Lifesaving Skills
Last week firefighters from Lost Hills and McKittrick worked with trauma nurses from Kern Medical to teach staff and teachers at Lost Hills Elementary how to use tourniquets to stop traumatic injuries from bleeding.
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Photo by Jesse Waldowski/KCFD
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Natural Sightings: Sunset at Stallion Springs Church
Jesse Waldowski took this photo of a Tehachapi sunset coloring the evening sky next to the Stallion Springs Church. Jesse is a Captain with the Kern County Fire Department at Station 18 in Stallion Springs and he took this photo not far from the station.
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Amid spike in house fires, American Red Cross seeks volunteers
Emergencies happen, even during the holidays. In the last 72 hours, fires have left 40 people without homes in Bakersfield, according to American Red Cross' Kern County Chapter. “That’s devastating for a family, to have to go to have gone through a fire in their home," said Andrew Freeborn, public information officers for the Kern County Fire Department. Meanwhile, volunteers with the American Red Cross are stepping in to assist, but they need more helping hands.
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Frank Becomes a Firefighter for a day
Meet Frank. He is one of our friends at KCFD Fire Station 31 in Wasco. He is battling brain cancer. He has always wanted to be a firefighter, so the firefighters went to his house to show him exactly what it takes to be one. Thank you, Frank, for spending time with us today.
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Firefighters Make A Special Visit to Kern Medical
For the fourth year in a row members of the Kern County Fire Department's Battalion 4 expressed their love for the community they serve in a personal and practical way. Today they delivered blankets they had made to patients at Kern Medical. The firefighters said it was also an opportunity to personally thank hospital staff for their tireless and compassionate work.
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KCFD Dispatcher Recognized for Utilizing Specialized Software
Smart911 recognized one of our dispatchers for using their software to locate a vehicle accident in a remote area near Keene, CA on September 14, 2019. The vehicle was 400 feet down a cliff and the caller didn’t know where they were but had registered for Smart911. This allowed dispatcher Zach Regan to locate the caller quickly using a GPS location. Zach then dispatched the appropriate resources including KCFD helicopter 408, fire personnel and Hall Ambulance to the location. All five occupants of the vehicle were assisted to safety where ground ambulances were waiting.
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Photo courtesy of Local 1301
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Kern County Fire and the 2019 “Stuff the Station”
Kern County Firefighters Local 1301 partnered with Kern County Human Services for our first “Stuff the Station” event. Because of the generous donations from the community and our members, we were able to provide many gifts to foster children in Kern County. Fire crews from Stations 41 and 42 on the east side of Bakersfield helped deliver some of the presents to children.
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KCFD rescues man from industrial potato sorting machine
Kern County Fire Department firefighters rescued a man whose arm was stuck in an industrial potato sorting machine in Bakersfield. The individual's arm was stuck between two rollers on the sorting equipment. Coordinated efforts between the KCFD Urban Search and Rescue 52 unit and a rescue medic from the Bakersfield Fire Department freed the individual in about 50 minutes. The individual was transported to a local trauma center afterwards.
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Photo courtesy of Local 1301
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Car Trouble in the Rain Doesn’t Stop KCFD
Another happy customer! Due to the engine running and keys locked inside the vehicle, FF Saverese was able to safely open the door for a gentleman in Lake Isabella stuck in the rain.
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Kern County
Tuesdays at 9:00am & 2:00pm
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here
for Meeting Agendas
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