1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the Chief Page 3 Acknowledgements Page 4 Mission and Values Page 5 History Page 6 Headquarters Page 7 Operations Page 8 Professional Standards Page 9 Training Page 10 Battalion 1 Page 11 Battalion 2 Page 12 Battalion 3 Page 13 2018 Incident Breakdown Page 14 2017 vs. 2018 Comparison Page 15 Incidents by Station and Month Page 16 In & Out of County Page 17 Promotions & Retirements Page 18 Academies Page 19 Employee Recognition Page 20 Tree Mortality Page 21 2018 Fire Service LODD’s Page 22 Community Involvement Page 23 Thank You Letters Page 24 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF 2018 has been a year of increased activity, growth, and transition in our department. There have been a wide variety of opportunities for personal growth and professional devel- opment. With these new opportunities, we look forward to ongoing innovation and in- creased levels of service to the public. The Tree Mortality Fuels Crew was able to clear 886 acres and remove 5,000 hazard trees while working on the 2 projects. We will continue to work on these projects through 5 additional grants awarded by CalFire for work to be completed from 2019 to 2021. January was a busy month for TCFD as our call volume remained at Holiday levels. The TCFD also assisted with the Thomas Fire Mudslide Incident early in the month. Local- ly there were two minor storms which resulted in some minor localized flooding, downed power lines and some traffic accidents. Tulare County did experience a few minor storms in February followed by a signifi- cant storm during the week of March 19th. Sections of Highway 190 were closed for a peri- od of time due to mudslides related to the Pier Fire burn scar. During the height of the storm, TCFD crews responded to 62 calls for service in a 24 hour period with approximately 20 of those calls directly relating to the weather. In April the TCFD experienced a decrease in calls for service followed by a signifi- cant increase in calls for service in May. Locally, 83 vegetation fires were reported in May compared to 46 in April. TCFD received 2 new Rosenbauer Type 6 Patrols and one Rosenbauer Type 3 En- gine in June. These new apparatus will help us to embrace the challenges in our communi- ties for future incidents. Statewide there were 11 active fires burning at the close of June and several TCFD crews went out of county to help with these incidents. Throughout July fires in the state continued to burn, tragically resulting in several firefighter and civilian fatalities. TCFD crews continued to help with several of the major statewide incidents. TCFD rolled out the Administrative Citation program and was able to issue several citations during the Fourth of July holiday. We will continue to educate the public on “Safe and Sane Fireworks” and what is allowed locally. During August and September, a number of wildland incidents in the state contin- ued. There were 29 wildland incidents in August alone. Tragically by the end of September, the fire service had experienced 8 line of duty deaths on California incidents. The tragic Camp Fire incident occurred during the month of November. The Camp Fire was devastating to the community of Paradise, California with over 19,000 structures destroyed and 88 civilians were fatally injured. TCFD wrapped up the year with several community events including helping Santa to deliver gifts to some deserving children! We also participated in several community pa- rades and assisted at the Visalia Rescue Mission. On behalf of the men and women of the Tulare County Fire Department, thank you for allowing us to serve you. Sincerely, Charlie Norman Fire Chief, Tulare County Fire Department 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to thank the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Officer for their ongoing support. Pictured left to right: Pete Vander Poel, Supervisor District 2; Mike Ennis, Supervisor District 5; Kuyler Crocker—Vice Chairman, Supervisor District 1; Amy Shuklian, Supervisor District 3; and J. Steven Worthley—Chairman, Supervisor District 4. County Administrative Officer County Administrative Officer Michael Spata— Jason Britt retired November 30, 2018 4 MISION STATEMENT The Tulare County Fire Department is committed to providing leadership, coordina- tion and customer based service through fire prevention, suppression, and emergency medical services. CORE VALUES INTEGRITY RESPECT LOYALTY TEAMWORK COMPASSION CORE VALUES We are committed to excellence through professionalism and trustworthiness achieved through our daily operations. We will continue to expand our public service delivery model through innovative and fiscally-responsible practices. We will strive to offer our workforce the best opportunities available for training and education to further enhance the public service we provide. 5 HISTORY The Tulare County Fire Department was established on July 1, 2007. Prior to 2007, the County of Tulare contracted with the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CDF), through a cooperative agreement, to provide fire protection for the County. This agreement was established in 1929. CDF provided personnel to staff fire stations and apparatus, which are owned by the County, as well as administrative staff to manage the Department. The Tulare County Board of Supervisors (BOS) hired Steve Sunderland in February 2006 as its first Fire Chief in anticipation of having their own fully operational Fire Department on July 1, 2007. Chief Sunderland hired three Division Chiefs, Ted Mendoza, John Crivello and Joe Garcia to assist him with the transition to a Department independent of CDF. Chief Mendoza was responsible for the operations of the Department, Chief Crivello was responsible for the Training Division and Chief Garcia managed the Fire Prevention Division. In October 2011, the BOS appointed Division Chief Garcia as their second Fire Chief after Chief Sunderland retired. Chief Garcia hired Clay Smith as the Support Services Division Chief and Charlie Norman as the Operations Division Chief after Division Chief Mendoza retired and Division Chief Crivello was hired as the Fire Chief of the Farmersville Fire Department. The BOS appointed Division Chief Norman as its third Fire Chief in January 2016. Chief Norman promoted Jeff McLaughlin, who began as a Lieutenant with the Department in 2007, from Battalion Chief to Division Chief of Operations in 2016. Pete Marquez was hired as the Division Chief for Support Services in 2016 when Division Chief Clay Smith was appointed as the Fire Chief for the Kings County Fire Department. Division Chief Marquez is currently responsible for the Professional Standards Division. Chief Norman promoted Battalion Chief Jeff Smith, who began as a Lieutenant with the Department in 2007, to Division Chief in November 2018. Division Chief Smith is the Department’s third Division Chief and is responsible for the Training Division. The Department moved its headquarters from Farmersville to a new facility in Visalia, which is located at 835 S. Akers St., in September 2017. The Tulare County Emergency Operations Center is located in Fire Department Headquarters which is next to the Sheriff’s Department. The co-location of the County’s Emergency Services allow for collaboration between the three Departments to improve services for the residents of the County. 6 2018 HEADQUARTERS STAFF Fire Chief Charlie Norman Department Secretary Anne Haynes Operations Professional Standards Training Administrative Division Chief Division Chief Division Chief Services Officer Jeff McLaughlin Pete Marquez Jeff Smith Steven Murch Prevention Training Captain 1 Battalion 1 Battalion Chief Kyle Newton Payroll Clerk Kevin Riggi Christina Whitendale Training Captain 2 Duane Shiers Prevention Office FireComm Assistant III Battalion 2 Dispatch Supervisor Maria Orozco Gloria Simoes Facilities Management Principal Account Clerk Divina Santos Battalion 3 Fleet Services Coordination Training Office Assistant III Ana Ferreira 7 2018 OPERATIONS DIVISION Operations Division Chief Jeff McLaughlin Battalion 1 Battalion 2 Battalion 3 A Shift A Shift A Shift Mike Pavone Richard Doyle Raymond Russell Battalion 1 Battalion 2 Battalion 3 B Shift B Shift B Shift Mark Fleming Derek Steidley Jesse Renteria Battalion 1 Battalion 2 Battalion 3 C Shift C Shift C Shift David Vasquez Bryan Duffy Jason Elizondo Emergency Management/ Planning 8 2018 PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS Professional Standards Division Chief Pete Marquez FireComm Fleet Prevention Dispatch Services Battalion Chief Gloria Simoes Coordination Kevin Riggi Jody Adney Justine Bunker Delylah Elizondo Cheyenne Gist Prevention Melissa Hernandez Fire Captains Brian Ramsey Joe Rosa, Jr. Amber Trimble Joanne Bear Josie VanHooser EH Dispatchers Code Enforcement Sebastian Avina Fire Inspectors Deanna Lavinder Cyndi Adney Brad Farr Jimmy Herrera John Meyer Gilbert Portillo (EH) 9 2018 TRAINING DIVISION Training Division Chief Jeff Smith Training Facilities Admin Captains Maintenance Duane Shiers Maintenance Kyle Newton Worker III Mere Saucedo 10 BATTALION 1 Station 1 Station 4 Station 12 Visalia Cutler/Orosi Woodlake Station 2 Station 8 Station 13 Kings River Ivanhoe Lemon Cove Station 3 Station 11 Station 14 Dinuba Exeter Three Rivers Station 17 Badger Key: Mountain Stations Valley Stations 11 BATTALION 2 Station 5 Station 16 Station 20 Posey Strathmore Doyle Colony Station 6 Station 18 Station 21 California Hot Kennedy Terra Bella Springs Meadows Station 15 Station 19 Station 22 Lindsay West Olive Springville Station 23 Camp Nelson Key: Mountain Stations Valley Stations 12 BATTALION 3 Station 7 Station 25 Goshen Tulare Station 9 Station 26 Alpaugh Tipton Station 10 Station 27 Richgrove West Pixley Station 28 Earlimart Key: Mountain Stations Valley Stations 13 2018 Incident Breakdown While overall call volume did decrease slightly from 2017, our Rescue & Emergency Medical Service calls went up 5% and our Service Calls also increased slightly from 2017 . Even with this increase we are still below the national average for “medical aids”. “Medical Aids” can range from basic medical aid calls, to citizens in their homes requiring our assistance, to vehicle accidents.