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Council approves draft of fire services cont.
So here we go again. Are you ready? I'm gonna go all "Sam Heath" on you, but it is IMPORTANT that everyone knows this info. We, the residents of Tehachapi City paid money to have a professional study done and the results of that study to be implemented. The council has chosen to to go against the recommendations that the study purposed, which was to add additional staffing at station 12 by at least 1 firefighter. Here it is for you taken from the fire study draft : Recommendations The City should proceed with negotiations to establish a full fire services contract with KCFD, assuming that the County will develop a cost effective agreement that includes fully committing to a positive working relationship. This agreement should also include the option to increase KCFD Fire Station 12, from a daily 24-hour on duty fire-company staffing of three firefighters to four firefighters. This staffing level would allow the fire company to be more effective in initial attack of structure fires and would enhance the entire regional delivery system. This next part explains why and was also taken from the study: Findings
Neither the current staffed KCFD nor the TFD fire-company as a single fire company may engage in interior fire fighting without assistance from another fire company. Both the City and County fire company staffing level is three (3) personnel. Four (4) fire fighting personnel are required before engaging in interior operations, as required under the current regulations, usually described as the two-in and two-out rule under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The only exception exists when there is a known rescue which must be accomplished before the arrival of necessary support and backup fire fighting personnel.
*** To break it down, when firefighters go to a structure fire two firefighters go inside and two stay outside. KCFD has 3 ff'rs on duty so unless there is a person inside they have to wait for the next engine for an extra ff in order to go in and contain the fire. If a forth person was added they wouldn't have to wait for anything minimizing the loss of property. Caudle says an extra ff won't get them to the fire faster , what he failed to mention is that it WILL get the fire PUT OUT faster!!
The city council and manager have decided that this would be a waste of money because engine 12 responds to calls in other county areas and isn't always within city limits, BUT they also are the 1st in to any emergency within the city limits.
Another thing that the city council and manager seem to want to ignore was the mutual aid agreement or an automatic aid agreement that the TFD would have had to have taken part in. Read on(from fire study):
Currently, the Department (TFD) is serving as backup to KCFD Fire Station 12. In that capacity, it may or may not be dispatched as part of an alarm make-up, depending on the judgment of the Kern
County battalion chief. In assuming prime jurisdiction, the TFD would be in a different position. Over time, many fire departments have signed automatic aid agreements so that smaller departments can field an effective response force using neighboring organizations. It should be noted that automatic aid is an agreement between parties that is based on meeting the interest of covering response areas with the closest engine concept. Automatic aid is not the same as mutual aid. Mutual aid is based on the premise that a department must exhaust all of its own resources before it can ask for outside assistance.
Notably, both automatic and mutual aid are dependent on reciprocity, i.e., like services in exchange for like services.
This last little bit of info is very important because TFD would have HAD to use KCFD for any structure fire they had for the reasons we just discussed. They would have only had 3 persons on duty and would have needed a 4th(provided by KCFD) in order to go into the structure, because of this they(TFD) would have been bound to "reciprocate" meaning they would have had to do the same for KCFD in COUNTY areas. If they are responding to help KCFD who is protecting the city??? NO ONE!
Either the council didn't fully understand this or they just didn't care because they were willing to spend over a MILLION dollars for TFD and now they won't pay for additional staffing at a fraction of the price because that FF won't remain within the city limits at all times??? Sounds slightly hypocritical to me. How about you?
Something the council might also want to consider. Again taken from the study:
According to the preliminary report, the KCFD has planned construction of a new station in the area of Golden Hills sometime between 2007 and 2010. That station has not been identified on a map for ESCi, but a description of the facility includes an Engine Company and a Truck Company, as well as an additional Type III Engine. While ESCi was not told specifically what the staffing levels are to be, it is assumed that this Type III will not be staffed on a permanent basis and will be cross-staffed when needed. The plan also discusses a helicopter facility but does not provide a specific location. SandCanyon is proposed to have a fire station built
between 2011 and 2016. That station is slated for an engine company and a cross-staffed Type
IV Engine (Patrol).
Well thank you all for your time. Sorry this was so long, but I felt the need to get this info out!
Here is the link to the full context of the fire study:
http://www.tehachapinews.co... 20 comments from 11 users
posted by
anonymous
on Jul 2, 2007 at 03:49 PM
The 2 captians are going over to the county as firemen and the other 2 reserves just got a "thank you, there's the door." The chief and assistant chief went back to CCI and the equipent will be used as a payment for the cities county contract.
posted by
anonymous
on Jul 1, 2007 at 02:52 PM
So the TFD is not going to be a volunteer fire dept anymore. Are we going to se there equipment driving around painted white now.
posted by
anonymous
on Jul 1, 2007 at 02:26 PM
Their Chief, Asst. Chief will go back to being firemen at CCI, the two remaining captains will become firefighters and be absorbed by the County Fire and that is all they had.
They closed their doors and told no one that it was their last day. I guess the county will now have to start waiting for back-up help from Keene or Bear Valley. posted by
anonymous
on Jul 1, 2007 at 01:46 PM
So what happend to the personnel from the TFD, I happened to drive by the station and it is all closed up and no cars there. I know they were done as of today, but what happened with there Chiefs, Captains, Firefighters. Just curious.
posted by
anonymous
on Jun 30, 2007 at 07:32 PM
I have also talked with Shane. I feel he has a plan on how he is going to run. Just because he has not announced this officially does not indicate to me he is not going to run. He has some good ideas on growth and our city. He also knows what it takes to protect our city. I feel he would be a good Councilman for us. What do you guys think? What do you guys know about this man? I don't think he is one of the good ol' boys. Can he get more votes then Grimes or Hand? -JBM- posted by
kidswi
on Jun 29, 2007 at 07:59 PM
Yup.
posted by
jimr
on Jun 29, 2007 at 02:02 PM
I understand what you're saying cg and there will be more seats available in 2010 when Phil Smith, for example, will be up for RE-ELECTION going into his 24th YEAR!!! Damn, isn't that enough already? Hopefully, we will all be around in 2010 to help you run. Just bear in mind that one must be a citizen of the City of Tehachapi to run for a Council seat. I've been posting notices here and asking all over WHO wants to run in 2008 and am met with SILENCE everywhere. That means the "good old boys/girls" incumbents will be automatically re-elected due to apathy on the part of the citizenry. Doesn't that mean we get the government we deserve? Jim Richards posted by
countygirl
on Jun 29, 2007 at 10:07 AM
Well, I'm all talk. I can't speak for Shane. However I'm not sure when you talked to him, but these fires burning right now make Shane a busy man. No, seriously I would like to run, but I can't be selfish about this. Family comes first. As I mentioned before my husband and I will be looking to move within the next year or so and because this will be a home we plan to be in for a LONG time I don't want to limit myself to where that home will be. I have three very young children and my focus needs to be on them right now with them just starting school and getting involved with sports, dance, etc. I do think there is a need for new blood NOW, so this decision still tugs at me, BUT again family first. Who knows what the future holds so maybe this still might be an option, but not for a couple of years. posted by
jimr
on Jun 28, 2007 at 03:25 PM
Say, Countrygirl...flattery will get you everywhere! Seriously, I have spoken to Shane on the phone and told him I would get behind him if he was serious about running but he will have to come out and make an official announcement...and we need to start NOW in order to get him the name recognition he will need when voting time comes around. So far, SILENCE. I got behind Larry Stouter for Sheriff and made a significant donation, distributed yard signs and fliers, etc. BUT, he was 6 months too late getting into the race and all his printed material showed his picture. Nice, but I told him when people go to the voting booth they are NOT going to see your face on the ballot....only YOUR NAME! Well, the results of the election proved my point. So, who here is SERIOUS about running for one of the two Council seats coming up next year. Anyone? OR, all talk! Jim Richards posted by
anonymous
on Jun 28, 2007 at 12:02 PM
Sounds like we need to ratchet up the political pressure on the city again, didn't they get it the first time around? We need to fire the City fire chief for nepotism and the city manager for allowing it in the first place. With the White fire destroying homes and acreage maybe people will wake up to just how important this issue is and should never be micromanaged by a city council that has no concept of proper fire protection. TEHACHAPI CITY FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU USED OUR MONEY TO PAY FOR OR RESIGN OR BE REMOVED, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
posted by
countygirl
on Jun 28, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Well with Shane on board I just might have to change my mind! = ) I better brush up on my reading. I actually plan on READING the things put in front of me. Oh and Jim what is with this age thing?? I know who you are, and I think you are being WAY to hard on yourself. OLD!! Not really! = ) posted by
ShaneThePain
on Jun 27, 2007 at 09:08 PM
Countygirl I will vote for you, if you will vote for me!
posted by
countygirl
on Jun 27, 2007 at 02:14 PM
You are to funny hammer! Thanks for the compliments though. :) Actually I have thought about running, but I think my age would make people a bit hesitant to vote for me. Also, yes we currently live in town but we will hopefully be moving to a bigger home within the next year or so, and if we get our way that will take us to the Golden Hills area. On another note. I was at the senior center yesterday. That place really needs some TLC. I hope our city council stops dragging their feet on this and gets them the money they need to do the job right. Our seniors deserve a nice place to call their own!! posted by
jimr
on Jun 26, 2007 at 05:21 AM
I applaud all of you for weighing in on this "hot topic" but the only way to affect any kind of change to let those people sitting at the "long tables" is to ATTEND the Council meetings and Stand UP, and Speak Out. If the other members of the citizenry agree with the speaker, they should stand up...and APPLAUD. THAT will let them know we're tired as hell and we're not going to take it any more! If just one person alone makes a comment, it is perceived as that one person's opinion. But, if EVERYONE else stands up and applauds, they will know that one person is speaking for ALL of us!! I'm sure a lot of their "back room" deals are being made in their "closed sessions". Who knows what they are saying, doing or voting on there? Jim Richards posted by
kidswi
on Jun 25, 2007 at 10:47 PM
Hey, I like where the Farmer's Market is! :)
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