City of Gonzales
FIRE DEPARTMENT
ACTIVITY REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: February 20, 2024
FROM: Jason Muscio, Fire Chief
THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: Fire Department Activity Report
RESPONSES
There were 74 calls for service during the month of January, including 1 structure fire, 1 vehicle fire, 43 EMS calls, 8 service calls, 7 false alarms, and 14 calls for which we were dispatched and cancelled enroute. The Fire Department provided mutual aid to our neighbors twice and received mutual aid once due to multiple incidents occurring at once. There was one serious vehicle accident on North Alta Street that resulted in 3 injured patients.
DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS
There are no vacancies in our full-time positions. We have two active Volunteer Firefighters that continue to work shifts as time allows, we also have one Volunteer Firefighter applicant that is working through the Selection Process. All fire apparatuses are currently in service; however, pump repairs are needed on both type 1 engines and will be scheduled as time and budget allows. All staff continued with mandatory EMS training updates, as well as Incident Command scenarios.
GRANTS
Two grant applications were submitted during the month of January, the first was a grant through the California Department of Water Resources that if awarded will fund a mass emergency notification system (NIXEL) and provide funding for flood fight materials, the total amount requested was $13,500.
The second grant application submitted was to the California Office of Traffic Safety for the purchase of new vehicle extrication equipment, the amount requested was $48,000. Staff is currently working to prepare a grant application for the Assistance to Firefighters grant program, administered by FEMA. This grant, if awarded, would fund the purchase of a replacement Fire Engine.
AGENDA
ITEM
9 PREVENTION
There were two business inspections conducted during the month of January. Residential smoke detectors were installed in two residences through partnership with the Red Cross. The Fire Chief, Public Works Director, and Public Works Supervisor met to discuss emergency response plans focused on flooding concerns.