Attachment A
Victowille
FIRE
EST. 1926
EMS
FIRE
NEWSLETTER
VOL. 15 JULY 2024
LICTORL
Victowille
WHAT'S NEW IN EMS?
EMS DIVISION
Connect 2024 Recap: Insights Unleashed
In July 2024, David Vega, EMS
Specialist, attended the 16th
annual ImageTrend Connect
conference. ImageTrend is our
department's electronic
patient care data system
provided and supported by the
Inland Counties Emergency
Medical Agency (ICEMA).
This conference is held yearly in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and attended by EMS agencies and Fire Departments nationwide.
ImageTrend Connect is a treasure trove of practical information about using ImageTrend software, upgrades, federal requirements, data collection, and integration with other platforms. The conference also features lectures from the industry's leading experts on various topics that are integral to our daily operations.
One of the key topics this year was evaluating Continuum. This cutting-edge technology provides real-time data and visual representations integrated with the department's Computer-aided Dispatching (CAD). Other topics discussed were the changes in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS), artificial intelligence (Al), and strategies to improve continuous quality improvement reviews.
This conference continues to educate our department on industry changes and provides an opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate with ImageTrend staff and peers. We want to thank city leadership and the Fire Chief for their continued support of EMS!
IMAGETREND:
ANNECT
ADMIN UPDATE
• 7/10 - Chrystal, Mallory, Stephanie, and Yesenia took AHA/BLS training with EMS Specialist David Vega and are now CPR Certified!
• 7/11 - Jasmine Scott station tour at FS311
• 7/17 - Champions Station tour at FS313
• 7/18 - Annual High Desert Backpack giveaway at SBC fairgrounds, thank you FS311 for participating! > • 7/19 - Ride Along for Eduardo Renteria FS311
• 7/19 - A Greater Hope Back to School Giveaway
• 7/19 - COV Concert in the park (Chrystal, Mallory, Hannah, BC Baladez and FS312) • 7/25 - COV Bring your child to work day, FS311 held station tours • 7/28 - Ride Along Liliana Mckee FS311
• 7/29 - Ride Along Joshua Alonzo FS314
RECRUITMENTS
• FF/PM & FF/EMT closed on July 30th - Applications are under review
COMPLETED PROJECTS
• FY20 HSGP Grant - Closed - Purchased Motorola radios for our new transport capable squads and Tiller.
• Purchase of the Water Tender
ADMIN UPDATE CONTINUED
AMESSAGE TO
OPERATIONS
Admin would like to acknowledge the staff who was out on strike teams assisting other regions. Captain, John Deroian and Austin Hartnell.
Engineer's, Casey Blas, Grant DeRose, Joel Jensen, and Nicholas Noriega.
FF/PM's Jonathan Alvarez, Jesse Aramburo, Joseph Contreras and FF/EMT Carlos Meza and Ely Woody. We are happy to have you back home and safe! VFD Deploys Strike Team to
Lake and Thompson Fires
In July, the Victorville Fire Department
deployed a strike team on OES 6315 to
assist in combating the devastating Lake
Fire and eventually reassigned to the
Thompson Fire in California. Responding
to the urgent need for resources, Captain
John Deroian, Engineer Grant Derose,
Firefighter Paramedic Jesse Aramburo
and Firefighter EMT Carlos Meza.
The Lake Fire in California became a
significant challenge for firefighting
crews,
burning over 31,000 acres and threatening numerous
structures. As conditions worsened, the fire prompted
widespread evacuation orders. Firefighters worked
tirelessly to contain the blaze, facing dry weather and strong winds that fueled its growth. The efforts of the strike team were crucial in protecting communities
and minimizing damage.
Meanwhile, the Thompson Fire also presented its own
set of challenges. Crews spent the majority of their
time battling this fire in Santa Barbara, where it
quickly escalated in intensity due to similar dry
conditions. The team's hard work and determination
were instrumental in managing the situation and
preventing the fire from spreading 1 further. Their
reassignment from the Lake Fire to the Thompson
Fire highlighted their adaptability and commitment to
safeguarding lives and property.
Victorville Fire Engineer Supports
Major Wildfires as Heavy Equipment
Boss and Division Group Supervisor
Engineer Casey Blas was recently deployed to assist in the suppression of multiple large wildfires across California through CalFire's Incident Management Team 5. Serving as a Heavy Equipment Boss (HEQB), Blas worked to coordinate and manage vital operations aimed at containing and extinguishing these fires.
Blas' first assignment was the Lake Fire near Santa
Maria, where he spent 14 days overseeing heavy
equipment operations. In addition to his role as a
HEQB, Blas was also assigned as a Division Group
Supervisor for a section of the fire. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing multiple resources
including personnel and equipment, across a
specific area of the fireline. His leadership helped
ensure that fire suppression efforts were
coordinated efficiently and effectively within his
division.
Once the Lake Fire situation stabilized, Blas was
reassigned to the Hill Fire in Humboldt County,
where he spent 8 days continuing his HEQB
duties. His final assignment was the Park Fire in
Butte County, where he spent another 6 days
contributing to fire suppression and rehabilitation
efforts.
As a HEQB, Blas was responsible for ensuring the
safety and effectiveness of various equipment
used to suppress wildfires. This included dozers,
excavators, masticators, skid steers, graders, and
water tenders-all crucial to cutting fire lines and
controlling the spread of the fires. The heavy
equipment and their operators, primarily private
civilian contractors hired through CalFire or the
U.S. Forest Service, are critical to firefighting
efforts in challenging wildland environments. Blas'
role involved overseeing up to 15 pieces of
equipment at a time, directing their use to safely
and efficiently combat the fires.
During his assignments, Engineer Blas also took
on the responsibility of mentoring a trainee-an
experienced captain from CalFire's Half Moon Bay
division. Together, they ensured that the heavy
equipment operations ran smoothly, balancing
the demands of fire suppression with the need for
safety in hazardous conditions.
Blas' contributions to these fire incidents, along
with his leadership as both a HEQB and Division
Group Supervisor, played a key role in protecting
communities and restoring affected areas. His
efforts, along with those of countless other
personnel, highlight the critical work done behind
the scenes during California's wildfire season.
VC
POLE FIRE
Apple Valley
July 2024, the Victorville Fire Department responded to the Pole fire in Apple Valley, working along side Apple Valley Fire and the Bureau of Land Management. What started as a 50-acre brush fire grew to an estimated 350 acre fire within four hours.
The incident quickly escalated as dry conditions and gusty winds caused the fire to spread.
The fire burned through approximately 3 acres of nearby brush before firefighters gained control. Crews worked tirelessly for nearly 5 hours to fully contain the fire, ensuring that no structures were damaged and no injuries were reported. The swift and coordinated efforts of the department prevented further spread, despite the challenging conditions.
Fire investigators later attributed the fire to a faulty transformer on the power pole. The incident highlighted the need for ongoing infrastructure maintenance and fire safety measures in high-risk areas like Apple Valley, especially during fire season.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts between the various agencies crews were able to contain the fire and save nearby homes from potential damage and lift all evacuation orders.