Ok Sherlock, who am I. I will tell you a little about myself and see if you have the right person. I have lived in Tehachapi for 30 years, I work for one of the Los Angeles Fire Dept's I won't tell you if it is city or county. I have been in the fire service for 24 years, I have been a Company Officer for 17 years, and acted as a Chief Officer. I have a Bachelors Degree in Public Admistration. I am a certified Company Officer, Chief Officer, Fire Investigator 1 & 2, Hazardous Materials Specialist, Fire Instructor 1, 2 & 3, Fire Marshal, Driver Operator, Rescue Systems 1 & 2, Trench Rescue, Swift Water Rescue, Strike Team and Task Force Leader, Safety Officer, Public information Officer, to name a few. Why don't you tell us about yourself? I too have much respect for Kern County firefighters, I have worked with them on many wildfires, and I have good friends that work there. This whole discussion goes back to the safety of the public. If you are a public servant you have a duty to provide a safe service, And by that you have to comply with safety regulations. If the SCVFD updated their equipment, attained proper turnouts, SCBA's, fire engines, and attained the proper training I would have no problem with them.

If the SCVFD wants to try and raise money by asking for donations or selling raffle tickets in front of public establishments then they have the right to do so just as much as kids have the right to do public car washes or people have the right to stand on the corner of major intersections with anti-abortion signs. If they have the business owner's permission then it is ok.

Any who have read some of my previous blog postings probably know that I often disagree with the way that both the local and county governments choose to operate, but voicing my concerns is all I can do. In the end, money talks and BS walks. Or, paying developers and investors talk, and county and local governments walk, and pretty much let them do whatever they want. But I am digressing.

It is a shame that all places do not have adequate fire services, in a perfect world they probably would. The fires in California last year are a good example, people build their homes in remote places, do not conduct sufficient fire prevention on their land, and then pay the price for it. A fire department, volunteer or otherwise, has limited ability to control fires if the land-owner does not perform their own fire-prevention.

What is the really issue that is upsetting people over SCVFD fund-raising issues? Is it because a lot of people look down on Sand Canyon? If the Kern County Fire Department was doing a fund-raiser in front of a local business would people be so upset? If the SCVFD, as a legitimate organization, is conducting a fund-raiser, then they have as much right to public access as anyone else. If they are not a legitimate organization then their bluff will be called soon enough and they will have to find some other means of getting money.

At any rate, if someone does not want to donate money then they do not have to. If the person seeking the donation is trying to intimidate the other individual into giving the donation, then they are only hurting their own productivity. Is the issue that locals like to thumb their nose at Sand Canyon, or is the SCVFD acting inappropriately while asking for donations? 

Gube,

I find it funny that you will jump on me. I didn't bad mouth anyone. I simply told Joty what Maben's people were saying. Yes, I am the wife of a Kern County firefighter and I am damn proud of that. If you have a problem with me that is fine, but leave my husband and the fine men and women of KCFD out of it! I know why you have a problem with me......I can't help it if you're not as smart as you think you are! As for me being unemployed, yes, I am. My husband and I made a choice( a choice that has kept us from our dream of owning our own home for a long time) for me to stay home with our 3 children. You being a single father should know what that is like. May I ask what you do that allows you to be on the computer all the time posting pictures of illegals and jumping on people who have done nothing wrong? Whatever it is it must pay well because you seem to be EATING OUT all the time. BTW that claim that the firefighters are mooching is BS. They are not ALLOWED to take free meals! They pay for all of their food!  As far as them being overpaid...... Will you tell me please how much firefighters are worth?

Thank You Joty for your positive comments. The KCFD is VERY good at what they do, and if Gube thinks they are whiny maybe he should go fight fires for 12-24 hours and then sleep on the floor for a few hours, get up and do it all over again.

lol

I don't live in Sand Canyon but I do support the volunteers who are willing to take their own time, energy & caring to help others in need. I simply cannot understand how someone could not support a fire department (whether or not it's volunteer). Anyone who is willing to put their own life on the line in order to save your life and/or home, family, pets, etc is a saint in my eyes. I am glad that they are there to help those in need.

concerned - Who are you? Well, to me you are nobody. When I used the word "we", I used it figuratively. Someone in SCVFD said they'd figured out who you were, not me specifically.

My first impulse was to poke fun at your puffed up feathers. I decided that wouldn't be right because you are entitled to be proud of your accomplishments. I just find it very very sad that you choose to sit behind your computer and cast stones at a group of hard working and dedicated people instead of offering some help, doing something constructive. Maybe you did offer and it was turned down. Is that why you're so bitter about SCVFD?

I'll put my life in their hands before I'd put it in yours...they are my friends and neighbors. I know I can depend on them.

Blendonw - thanks for the verbal support! lol, there are people in town who "look down" on Sand Canyon. Instead of making me angry, it makes me giggle. Most of those people have never even been to SC, instead, they've listened to the rumors of the "olden days" when the west really was wild, lol. Believe me, I'd much rather live where I am free and not behind a gate with a Gestapo-wannabe HOA trying to run my life. I can live with people turning their nose up when I tell them where I live, but I do draw the line when certain individuals feel they can attack our VFD!

'Past' being the key word here dreamkiller. No, I didn't say the Chief had issues with everyone. What I said was: "Because politics and individual egos led to infighting, the Sand Canyon Volunteer Fire Department has been shut down. I don't know if it is temporary or if they can get their s**t together and work for the community again but for now the trucks are parked..."

They have worked hard to "clean house" and have done a fairly good job of it. Egos will always come into play, that's just the way it is.

And by the way you SNOB, we're all Tehachapi - there is no 'your' or 'our' neighborhoods.

I won't be responding any further to blogs/comments about SCVFD - so smack away!

I do appreciate all the positive comments and support! 

"SNOB, we're all Tehachapi "

Why don't you follow your own saying. You are the one who belittle's those who post on here who don't live in Sand Canyon. You act as if we don't live in Sand Canyon then we shouldn't be posting about the SCVFD. But when it suits you we are all from Tehachapi. In your posts you make it out like there are yours and our neighborhoods. Maybe you should re read some of your posts.

"You don't live up here, it's not your concern unless you've been supporting us in our efforts, but hell yes, it most certainly is a MONEY issue!"

"If you lived in Sand Canyon, I would gladly take the time to answer all your questions"

"longtimeresident - of where? Obviously not Sand Canyon. You don't know jacksquat about SCVFD"

Refresh you memory Joty, kinda looks like you are pulling the my neighborhood, your neighborhood thing. You are obviously the pot calling the kettle black, can you say hypocrite!! But of course all rules don't apply to you joty, you are free to do whatever you want, judge who ever, belittle who ever, force your opinion on who ever, but nobody else is allowed to do so without you jumping all over them. Why don't you take some of your own medicine. Why doesn't your Chief get on here and redeem you SCVFD, I know he has to read these things, why doesn't he defend the SCVFD against these accusations? Maybe because these things are true, and allegations are true.

I agree with dreamkiller, if you ever want to have a great volunteer fire dept you have to get rid of the ego's it isn't going to get you anywhere just look at the Tehachapi City Fire dept. Maybe if you did some reorganization, took steps to build good ties with the county fire dept, put guys throught the fire academy and EMT, got good training for your regular volunteers, maybe get some good turnouts and SCBA's that are safe and in compliance, maybe talk to a fire dept about maybe getting an engine they are going to retire, that is still in compliance. Then you guys would be taking steps in the right direction. If you burn bridges you will never get any help, and that seems to be what the SCVFD has been doing for the past few years, so you have a steep hill to climb.

I do not speak for Sand Canyon Volunteer Fire Company.  I am just the daughter and stepdaughter of two of the volunteers.  I know their dedication to helping people and the endless hours of training they continually do.  It floors me how bitterly some people criticize SCVFC.  I suppose it's the negative side of human nature...A couple of the bloggers here seem to have some agenda to throw mud at these hard working volunteers.  The pettiness and downright schoolyard bulliness is appalling.  Are not we all adults?  Some people only feel good when they have tromped on another and that is downright sick.  Sadly this sort of thing happens all over, in any town...petty, shallow people looking down their noses at others...the arrogant slashing people's lives so they feel mighty...Some people just want to be the big cheese and the heck with anybody they step on to do it.  There are good people all over and somehow we must keep on keeping on and not let the oral flatuence of the naysayers cloud our lives...

Laurie Nelson

concerned, I guess I owe you a word of thanks. I did go back and reread what I wrote. It made me realize that by letting pissants get under my skin like that, I have some real issues to deal with. So I just got off the phone with an anger management therapist. If she helps me resolve whatever it is that has me so angry (it's not you, you're just an irritant!) I'll gladly refer you to her!! 

dreamkiller, you're right. Last year SCVFD was in much better shape, and it was male egos that broke it apart. And no, letting Street go was a great decision...