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In an effort to keep you up to date on the latest local, statewide, and federal fire issues, OC Firefighters send out monthly news clippings. This newsletter will help inform you about very important fire-related matters.
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3 more Orange County Fire Authority employees contract coronavirus
An additional three employees of the Orange County Fire Authority tested positive for the novel coronavirus Sunday, March 22, bringing the total number of people working for the agency who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 up to four. Firefighters, paramedics and other personnel were notified in a memo issued shortly after authorities confirmed the latest cases Sunday evening, OCFA Capt. Jason Fairchild said. There were 125 people in Orange County diagnosed with COVID-19 as of Monday. One of the newly diagnosed employees worked with the first OCFA firefighter infected with the virus, Fairchild said. Officials have a strong suspicion that those two cases may be related.
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Photo Courtesy of OC Firefighters IG
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Coronavirus: OC first responders test new 911 call system to reduce potential COVID-19 exposure
The novel coronavirus is changing the way first responders with the Orange County Fire Authority respond to calls. Crews demonstrated what it will look like in a mock call Tuesday. If it doesn't put a life at risk, dispatchers will screen callers. For patients showing symptoms of novel coronavirus, crews will wear their personal protective equipment. That's masks and gowns added to the usual gloves and goggles. Capt. Jason Fairchild with OCFA Incident Management Team said symptomatic patients will be asked to meet the responding crew outside. "When they take the 911 call, they're trying to direct people if they're able to walk and do so safely, we would like them to come outside," Fairchild said.
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Fire At Irvine Valley College Prompts Hazmat Response, Injures Firefighter
A firefighter suffered minor injuries after a fire at Irvine Valley College prompted a hazmat response, early Sunday morning. Authorities responded to reports of an automatic smoke detector alarm at the Irvine Valley College Business Science Technology & Innovation Center located in the 5500 block of Irvine Center Drive around 2:29 AM. Firefighters entered the building and determined the fire was coming from an information technology room with hazardous batteries possibly inside. Due to the dangers posed by the hazardous materials reported to be inside, crews exited the building and requested additional resources including a hazmat team. After additional crews arrived on scene firefighters entered the building again and determined the fire had been extinguished by the fire sprinklers. One firefighter suffered from a burning sensation to his eyes and was being treated on scene.
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Mann fire in Norco slows, evacuations lifted or downgraded to warnings
Five hundred homes — and some 1,500 people — were threatened Tuesday, March 3, by the wind-driven Mann fire that broke out along the Santa Ana River bottom in Norco and grew to 175 acres. Evacuations called at the height of the blaze by Tuesday evening were lifted or downgraded to evacuation warnings. More than 200 firefighters fought the fast-moving blaze, with about 40 of those being OCFA firefighters. The OCFA crews were part of a Type 3 Strike Team and a Type 1 Strike Team that assisted operations near Jurupa Valley in Riverside County.
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Video Courtesy of the OCFA
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Airbags Used to Lift Pickup Truck Off Injured Bicyclist
OC Firefighters responded to the intersection of North French Street & East Civic Center Drive in Santa Ana for a reported auto vs pedestrian incident. By utilizing airbags to lift the vehicle off the pedestrian, who was on a bicycle, fire crews were able to rapidly extricate him. OCFA firefighter/paramedics provided treatment and transported the patient to the hospital. The cause of the incident is being investigated by the Santa Ana Police Department.
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Photo courtesy of the OCFA
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Fire Destroys Large Home, Leaves Family Dogs Missing In Tustin
A two-story home was destroyed by a massive fire that also left two family dogs unaccounted for, early Saturday morning. Authorities responded to reports of a residential structure fire burning in the 1000 block of Hyde Park driver near Newport Avenue around 2:40 AM. Units arriving on scene located a large two-story home with heavy fire showing from the second floor and began efforts to extinguish the blaze. Due to the intense flames a partial roof collapse occurred leaving firefighters unable to attack the blaze from the inside. It took just over 30 minutes for firefighters to extinguish the bulk of the flames.
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A shuttered Santa Ana restaurant was damaged by a fire this morning
OCFA firefighters were met with heavy black smoke pouring out of a boarded up vacant building just before 9 a.m. in Santa Ana. They had to force their way in the building at 1904 Wes 1st Street. The fire happened at what used to be Antojitos Don Chepe, a restaurant. Investigators were at the scene. No injuries were reported.
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Firefighters Utilize Extraction Tools For Santa Ana Traffic Accident
OC Firefighters responded to a traffic collision on Segerstrom near Flower in Santa Ana shortly after midnight on March 15. Fire crews used a number of auto extrication tools to free the passengers. A total of four patients were treated by Firefighter/Paramedics, with one being transported to the hospital with moderate injuries.
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Photo courtesy of the OCFA
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Hit & Run Crash Into Dentist Office Ruptures Gas Line, Forces Family To Evacuate In Santa Ana
Authorities responded to reports of a traffic collision involving a building at the My Dentist/Mi Dentista located in the 2000 block of West 17th Street near North English Street around 2:33 AM. Units arriving on scene located a two-vehicle crash involving a dark-grey Nissan Altima and a silver Toyota Corolla with one female patient suffering from minor injuries. The impact of the crash sent the Altima into the side of the dentist office, rupturing a gas line in the process. Firefighters secured a perimeter around the ruptured gas line and evacuated a family from a nearby home while they awaited the response of a gas company representative. The female victim was treated on scene and was transported to an area hospital in a private vehicle.
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Aggressive Firefighting Leads to Yorba Linda House Fire Knockdown
Last night OCFA firefighters, with assistance from fire crews from Anaheim, responded to a well-involved garage fire threatening the inside of the home. Aggressive firefighting contained the fire to the garage and exterior of the home. The home was vacant at the time of the fire. Conditions firefighters encountered upon arrival can be seen in the video.
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Two Injured After Vehicle Looses Control
On the afternoon of March 19, OCFA firefighters responded to a reported traffic collision at Santiago Canyon Road & Jackson Ranch Road. Arriving fire crews found a vehicle that had lost control and went off the road, into a dry riverbed. Firefighter paramedics treated two passengers for injuries and transported both to a hospital.
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Photo courtesy of the OCFA
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Home Spared After Van Catches Fire Inside Garage In Tustin
A home was spared from serious damage after a van caught fire while parked in an attached garage, Saturday evening. Authorities responded to reports of a structure fire burning in the 13800 block of Almond Street around 5:23 PM. Units arriving on scene located a two-story townhome-style residence with heavy smoke showing from the garage. Firefighters entered the garage and quickly extinguished the vehicle fire before it could spread into the home. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
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Garden Grove Garage Fire Quickly Halted
In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 16, OCFA fire crews responded to a reported structure fire in the 5500 block of Belgrave Ave. in Garden Grove. Upon their arrival, firefighters quickly sprang into action to contain the flames. In total it took firefighters almost 20 minutes to get the flames under control. Two adult residents were treated by firefighter paramedics and transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation.
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Fire Contained to Garage in Yorba Linda
Orange County Fire Authority fire crews, with the assistance of crews from Anaheim Fire And Rescue, quickly knocked down a garage fire in the 18000 block of Truman Way on Sunday, March 15. The successful containment of the blaze prevented the spread of the fire into the rest of the house.
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Join the OCFA For “Tones At 2”
During these unprecedented times when children and families are homebound, the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is launching an interactive and fun fire department education program. Starting today (March 27), OCFA is rolling out its "Tones at 2" live Facebook feed geared toward elementary-aged students. Over the next two weeks, firefighters will show kids different aspects of the fire department including fire station tours, the fire investigation dog "Freedom," fire helicopter and much more. So remember to tune in, learn and ask lots of questions at 2 pm every Monday through Friday on Facebook at
facebook.com/OrangeCountyFire
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How the coronavirus pandemic is crippling California's efforts to prevent catastrophic wildfires
California’s ability to prepare for a dry and potentially dangerous fire season this year is being crippled as the coronavirus pandemic prompts fire agencies across the West to cancel or delay programs aimed at preventing catastrophic wildfire. From clearing out undergrowth in forests to training firefighters to tamp out flames, local, state and federal fire forces are trying to move forward within new social distancing guidelines, as well as with potentially sick employees, but that’s making their work harder and sometimes impossible to do.
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Teen girls rappel down buildings, learn firefighting during empowerment camp
Jenna Stark is the woman you’d want to pull you from a burning building.
She can deadlift 300 pounds and back-squat 200. She’s good to go on 45 minutes of sleep. And she regularly takes ice baths to control her body’s reaction to the cold. So it was appropriate that the 5-foot-8, 170-pound cross-fit-gym-owner-turned-firefighter was a mentor during this weekend’s Girls Empowerment Camp at the Orange County Fire Authority headquarters in Irvine. Seven teams, each headed by a female firefighter, including one helicopter pilot, rotated through exercises designed to build confidence and self-esteem. Sixty other OCFA workers and volunteers helped provide support.
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Video courtesy of the OCFA
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WHAT WE DO IN THE WAKE OF UNCERTAINTY WILL DEFINE WHO WE ARE
By Kevin Vance, Military Veteran, IAFF L3631 Firefighter
For us, this will define our generation. And the call of our generation dictates how we act. Under normal conditions, the community has always looked to us time and time again for strength. For compassion and patience. For understanding and direction. Most of all, they look to us for leadership. Someone to guide them out of the storm. Everything else in your professional career is but corollary to this vital dedication.
We are now, more than ever, needed to answer the call to
Duty
,
Honor
,
Country
. It is our rallying cry.
Learn why it is so important to answer the call to each of these areas by
CLICKING HERE
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2018 Orange County Firefighters Year In Review
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In 2018, our Firefighters responded to more than 142,000 emergencies throughout the 23 cities and unincorporated communities of Orange County. The Year in Review book serves to illustrate the daily challenges that our First Responders face while serving on the frontlines. Click
HERE
to view the book.
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OC Firefighters - IAFF Local 3631 |
1342 Bell Avenue, Suite 3A | Tustin | CA | 92870
THIS MESSAGE WAS CREATED BY JIMMY BLACKMAN & ASSOCIATES.
Copyright © 2017 OC Firefighters, all rights reserved.
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