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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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2019 Daniel A. Terry Legislative Conference
In April, OC Firefighters attended the Daniel A. Terry Legislative Conference hosted by the California Professional Firefighters in Sacramento. Firefighters from throughout the State of California met with their respective State Senators and Assembly Members to advocate for important legislative priorities that impact Firefighters and public safety. Below is a summary of some of the key bills:
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- Firefighter Behavioral Health: SB 542 creates a rebuttable post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) presumption in the state’s workers’ compensation system whereas AB 1116 sets statewide standards for firefighter peer support and crisis referral programs.
- Community Paramedicine: AB 1544 enacts a statewide pilot program that authorizes local emergency services agencies to provide for community paramedicine or triage to alternate destinations, such as sobering centers and mental health facilities better equipped to handle those incidents and remove excessive strain from of emergency rooms.
- Firefighter Out-Of-State Injuries: AB 932 adds firefighters to the list of groups who would be covered under workers’ compensation if they are injured after selflessly placing themselves in harm’s way in the protection or preservation of life or property, regardless of whether the injury occurs within or out of the state.
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Irvine and Orange County Fire Authority will stay together, under $50 million agreement
A potentially disruptive split has been averted: Irvine will not leave the Orange County Fire Authority, now that both have agreed to a $50 million deal to give the city what officials consider a fairer share of the public safety agency’s resources.
Irvine gave notice last year that in 2020 it might leave the authority, which serves 1.8 million people in 23 cities and unincorporated parts of the county. City leaders were frustrated by a funding formula that sees Irvine taxpayers contributing about 20 percent of the agency’s roughly $390 million annual budget.
In order to stay, Irvine wanted a joint police and fire training center, stepped-up fire service in the city and a faster pay-down of pension liability for OCFA employees. The agreement –approved by the Irvine City Council on Tuesday, April 9, and by OCFA’s board March 28 – does those things and several others. Irvine’s financial contribution to the agency, based on property taxes, remains the same.
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Firefighters rescue 5 cats from burning home in Santa Ana
SANTA ANA - Firefighters in Santa Ana came to the rescue of five cats trapped inside a burning home Monday afternoon. Firefighters raced to the house on the 300 block of East Virginia Street to find smoke coming out of the front of the structure. Firefighters doused the fire while searching for any people who might be trapped inside. No people were found, but five cats were rescued. Two other cats were found deceased. Some of the cats needed a little extra help, so they were given oxygen through specially designed masks. All Orange County Fire Authority trucks carry the masks to help revive pets and save their lives.
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Firefighters Rescue Elderly Man from Condo Fire
IRVINE - At 12:50 pm, OC Firefighters responded to the 100 Block of Groveland. Crews achieved a quick knockdown of the fire in a two-story condo. First arriving Firefighters rescued an elderly man and transported another patient for smoke inhalation to a local hospital.
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Roaring Fire Spreads Across Several Homes
BUENA PARK - OC Firefighters responded to an early morning fire that erupted in Buena Park damaging several homes. Firefighters were on scene within minutes and began attacking the flames. The fire extended to adjacent homes, but many other structures were saved preventing further damage and financial loss.
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Early morning house fire contained to one room
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – OC Firefighters contained a rapidly spreading fire to one room of a house in Rancho Santa Margarita. Thanks to the regionalized fire protection services throughout Orange County, the early morning blaze was quickly extinguished.
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2 dead in fiery crash in Santa Ana, street racing suspected
SANTA ANA - Two people were killed after the car they were traveling in crashed into a tree and burst into flames in Santa Ana on Saturday night, authorities said. The car, headed north on Bear Street from MacArthur Boulevard, may have been involved in a street race with another vehicle, Santa Ana police said in a news release on Sunday. Orange County Fire Authority firefighters responded to the 3200 block of Bear Street at Alton Avenue about 9:18 p.m. on a report of a single-vehicle crash. The firefighters found the vehicle fully engulfed, the release said.
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Photo by Southern Counties News
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RV Fire Burns San Clemente Home
SAN CLEMENTE - A home in San Clemente caught fire Wednesday on the 800 block of Calle Vallarta. What began in a camper next to the home quickly spread to the nearby house's attic, according to Orange County Fire Authority. The fire was reported at approximately 12:15 p.m.
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Photo by @a.nilssen via Instagram
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OC Firefighters Extinguish Car Fire
MISSION VIEJO – Fire Crews from OCFA Engine 24 quickly extinguished a vehicle fire stationed at a church parking lot.
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7 hurt in 3-vehicle crash on 5 Freeway in South Orange County
5 FWY - A three-vehicle crash on the 5 Freeway on Sunday evening in the Capistrano Beach area injured seven people, authorities said. The crash happened about 8 p.m. on the northbound Santa Ana Freeway, just north of Camino De Estrella, the Orange County Fire Authority and California Highway Patrol said.
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Pilot killed as small plane crashes during takeoff at Fullerton airport
FULLERTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT - A pilot was killed when a twin-engine plane crashed and was engulfed in flames Thursday shortly after takeoff from the Fullerton Municipal Airport, officials said. Authorities reported that the six-seat Beechcraft Duke crashed about 7:50 p.m. while departing from Runway 24 at the airport. The plane, which had just fueled up, ended up on a taxiway, where it was engulfed in flames, she said. Firefighters from Anaheim and the Orange County Fire Authority also responded to the crash.
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Freon Leak Prompts Evacuation Of Costco In Laguna Niguel
LAGUNA NIGUEL - A Freon leak Saturday morning prompted the evacuation of a Costco Wholesale in Laguna Niguel. Firefighters responded about 4:15 a.m. to the store, located at 27220 Heather Ridge, and detected the leak within the building and evacuated everyone inside, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. A HazMat team was preparing to enter the store to confirm no one was still inside, the OCFA said.
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Orange County Fire Authority warns wild blooms may intensify wildfires
IRVINE - The hills covered in yellow might look beautiful right now, but the Orange County Fire Authority warns when all this mustard dries up, it could mean more fuel for wildfires. Breathtaking views of wild blooms taking over the hillsides of Southern California could soon turn into terrifying sights, leaving you breathless. OCFA Public Information Officer Capt. Tony Bommarito said homeowners should do more than just take in the sights.
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Garden Grove Firefighters Start Orientation to Merge with OCFA
Training has started for the 70 plus Garden Grove Firefighters as they prepare to join the Orange County Fire Authority. Last month, the OCFA Board of Directors and the City of Garden Grove voted to approve and finalize the contract for Fire and Emergency Medical Services to be provided by our department. Training will continue through August when the contract goes into effect. OC Firefighters are happy to welcome our Garden Grove brothers and sisters to the OCFA fire family!
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Retired OCFA Captain Snyder Passes Away
OC Firefighters Local 3631 mourns the passing of one of our own, Retired Captain Steve Snyder, who passed away last month. Steve began his career in the fire service with the Santa Ana Fire Department and retired in July 2018 from the Orange County Fire Authority after 34 years in the fire service. He was a courageous Firefighter, a loving and supportive husband, father, and grandfather, and a loyal friend. Steve, you will surely be missed, rest in peace.
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OCFA Captain Danielson 1954-2019
Retired OCFA Fire Captain Mark Danielson passed away in February following a long battle with job-related cancer. He was laid to rest at the end of March in the presence of his family, friends, and fellow Firefighters. Condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Mark. To view the memorial service, please click on the following link:
Mark Danielson Memorial Service
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OC Firefighters help Tustin residents get ready for the next emergency
Tustin held its annual expo on Saturday, April 6, to help residents get ready for an emergency. The event held inside one of the Tustin Hangars featured demonstrations and resources for being better prepared for a disaster or emergency. Residents could purchase supplies for their emergency kits and get tips for how to plan. They also got a sense of what it will be like when a large earthquake hits the region through a mobile simulator. There were emergency vehicles for kids to explore and the Orange County Fire Authority demonstrated the work its search and rescue dog, Sadie, does.
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Photo by Greg Andersen, OC Register
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2017 Orange County Firefighters Year In Review
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We are proud to present the inaugural Orange County Firefighters Year in Review photo book! In 2017, our Firefighters responded to more than 141,000 emergencies throughout the 23 cities and unincorporated communities of Orange County - an average of 505 emergency calls per day. 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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